Definition: 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?

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this Bible verse together. It's a really important passage about how to handle difficult situations – specifically, when someone breaks a rule or doesn’t follow instructions. Here’s a simplified explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse is talking about a leader (or anyone in a position of authority) who has a group of people and discovers one person has left the group. It's asking a really important question: "How do you react when someone doesn’t follow the rules?" Let’s unpack it: “Matthew 18:12” : This is the verse itself – we know it’s from the Gospel of Matthew, which tells about Jesus' teachings. “How think ye?” : This isn’t a question of your thinking; it’s asking you to consider how you will react. It's inviting us to reflect on our response. “If a man have an hundred sheep…” : This sets up the scenario – we're talking about a shepherd with a large flock of sheep. It emphasizes that this is a significant situation. “…and one of them be gone astray.” : One sheep has left the group. It’s a problem! “Doth he not leave the ninety-nine and nine?” : This is the crucial part. The shepherd doesn't just ignore the straying sheep. He instructs his followers to do something . He tells them to leave the ninety-nine and nine, and go into the mountains. What does this mean? It means that when someone breaks a rule or doesn’t follow instructions, it’s important to handle it with serious care and responsibility. It’s not enough just to let it happen; we need to be decisive and take action. The Key Message: The verse is about discipline and forgiveness. It emphasizes that when someone makes a mistake, it's better to address the situation fairly, even though it might be difficult. The shepherd isn’t punishing the straying sheep – he’s showing compassion and understanding. He wants to deal with the problem in a way that preserves the group (the community) and maintains order. In simpler terms: Imagine you're playing a game where one person breaks the rules. Instead of just ignoring it, the shepherd says, "Okay, let’s find this person and talk to them. Let’s not let them do anything else wrong." It’s about showing understanding and taking action to correct the situation without letting it damage the whole group. Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Give you a real-life example of how this principle applies?