For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Parallel translations
- WEB For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.
- NKJV For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
This verse declares that the Son of Man came to save the lost. It grounds care for the little ones in Christ's saving mission.
Overview
Most early manuscripts omit this verse, and many modern translations bracket or footnote it as likely drawn from Luke 19:10; faithful scholars differ on its originality. Its content, however, is thoroughly biblical: Jesus came to seek and save the lost, which is precisely why his people must not despise the lowly. It fittingly introduces the parable of the lost sheep that follows.
Cross-references & the web
No cross-references recorded for this verse.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 18:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.