Parable of the Lost Sheep, 'which is intended to show that it would be in direct opposition to God's desire for human salvation to lead astray one of those little ones, and to cause him to be lost, like a strayed sheep. Luke 15:4 records the same beautiful parable, though in a different connexion '(see the notes there). The practical lesson is that we must not only be kind to, and honour Christ's little ones (i. e. members of His Church), but, if they go astray, must show our love by seeking to reclaim them, like the Good Shepherd.
Related Commentaries of Matthew 18:12
Matthew 18:12-14
12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.