The Important Question Here Is: How are Sinners to be approached and treated?

Here’s Martin Luther’s gloriously comforting sermon on the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Luke 15:1-10. (Listen here. Read them all here.)

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY .

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’

“Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Luke 15:1-10

THIS is one of those comforting Gospels which is preached all the year-round. In it the Savior teaches us that His office is that of a shep­herd who is to follow and seek to restore the lost sinner, and to save him from falling a prey to the wolf, that is the devil, and from eternal condemna­tion. Such truths the Savior was preaching in the presence of publicans and sinners who had come to hear Him. When this was observed by the Scribes and Pharisees they murmured, put an evil construction upon it, and took it as an evi­dence of carelessness. For pious man it is becoming, they thought, to associate with none but pious people. However, the Lord defends His action in a masterly way. He tells them that He is doing nothing more than others do even in matters of less importance. He refuses to accept the given rebuke of the Pharisees and defends His actions as being perfectly right.

The important question here is: How are sinners to be approached and treated? As two different parties, though both pretend to know the Word of God, here meet, so their answer to the above question is different. The Scribes and Pharisees know nothing of the Word of God, except what Moses teaches them in the law. The law, however, teaches throughout: God is merciful to those who are pious and keep His commandments, but, on the other hand, will punish the wicked who do not keep His commandments.

Therefore the Scribes and Pharisees draw the inference, that it does not become any man to deal with sinners otherwise than God does. And because God is angry with sinners and does not accept them, it becomes pious people not to accept them either, but to let them go their way.

The same conclusion also is drawn by our own. As soon as a man arrives at a true knowledge of his sin, he is inclined to think that God is angry, that there is no grace for him, but that all calamities must come upon him.

This is seen in Adam and Eve. As soon as they had eaten the forbidden fruit, they felt accused in conscience of having sinned against God, and therefore hid themselves and did not want to be seen. This also is noticed in little children. When they know that they have done wrong, they will hide themselves. It is the nature of sin to make the heart timorous, so that it fears wrath and punishment. On the other hand, where a man is convinced of his innocence, he feels secure, and cares nothing, though others condemn, for the heart is confident in its innocence and doubts not that the guilty one will be found out and the innocent will escape.

As a heart that feels itself guilty can not, on that account, do otherwise but give way to fear and to despair of all grace, so here the, Pharisees judge concerning sinners. They know that pub­licans and sinners have thus far been following a sinful occupation, and now dread the conclusion: Nobody ought to associate with knaves nor show them any favor; for God himself does not favor them, but rejects them; He wants only pious, God­fearing persons, who are not burdened by such gross sins.

But consider, if such opinion were right, that God has no patience with poor sinners, but will inflict punishment upon them, what would be­come of us? Where would He have His people and a Church? For although not all be given to gross external vices, many a husband, thank God, has committed no adultery, and many a hand has not killed nor stolen nor done anything which is dishonest and wicked; yet, before God, we must all confess that we arfl sinners. We see and ex­perience that within our hearts there is nothing good, though the hand, mouth and other members of one may be more blameless than the members of another. God, however, judges the heart. If He would withhold His grace and reject the sinner and have nothing to do with him, as the Pharisees here decide according to the law, it would follow inevitably that no man could be saved. That their argument proves too much and that their opinion is erroneous, the Pharisees themselves will have to confess.

For this reason our Lord Jesus Christ ex­presses another judgment, refutes the answer of the Pharisees altogether, and arrives at the oppo­site conclusion;- namely; that God is no enemy of the sinner, and that He does not desire his death, for which reason He, the Lord Jesus, could not be the enemy of sinners either. He has come into the world to seek and to save the sheep that had been lost. This example should be followed by all men, especially by the ministers of the Gos­pel; as what is lost in the house is diligently sought, so should they be ever active in seeking those who are lost spiritually.

This is a doctrine and preaching far different from the doctrine of Moses and the preaching of the law. It has not originated in our hearts, but has been brought by the Son of God from heaven; as also John the Baptist saith: “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath de­clared Him.” For this will of God, that He is not angry with sinners, that He will not condemn them on account of sin, but much rather be gra­cious unto them and save them, is unknown to all men. We rather know and feel the contrary. For, as we have said before, sin always causes us to be afraid of God. But now our dear Lord Jesus, by His Gospel, teaches us a different treatment of sin before the judgment of God; that God will not be the enemy of sinners, but will graciously accept them, and that there will be joy before the angels in heaven over those sinners who repent and are converted.

This doctrine we should the more earnestly heed, because our reason teaches the reverse, so that we may comfort and support ourselves against an evil conscience and against sins. Whoever will resort in such temptations of conscience to bis own heart, reason or understanding will surely be altogether helpless and will fall into despair. Therefore all depends on this, that we, contrary to our hearts and conscience, admit the teachings of the Savior, and say: I am a poor sinner, this I cannot and will not deny; but I will not despair on that account, as though God did not want me; because my Lord Jesus Christ saith that a sinner is like a sheep that has strayed from the shepherd and is now lost in the wilderness. Such a lost sheep He will not leave in its lost condition, but will seek it and return it to the flock. In these words the Savior assures us that He will not reject us on account of sin, but that He will diligently seek to deliver us from sin and to make us par­takers of His grace.

The Gospel in other places points out ample reason why God will not cast away sinners. In St. John, chap. 3, we learn, that God is no enemy of the world, but that He so loveth the world, that He gave His only begotten Son as a Redeemer in order that the world, by such a sacrifice, may be comforted and not despair on account of sin. Al­though God could have helped us in some other way, yet He chose to redeem us by His only be­gotten Son, who took upon Himself our sin and paid its penalty, so that we have no reason to doubt the sufficiency of His ransom. For it is evident, that God must have more pleasure in the sufferings and death of His Son, than He can have displeasure in us and our sin.

Besides these reasons, the Lord Jesus expresses in our Gospel lesson a peculiar thought in regard to these matters. He tells us that He cannot do otherwise than to be with sinners, to seek them, and to do all that is necessary for their salvation, that it is with Him as with us men. When a rich man who has ten thousand dollars loses a thousand by theft or otherwise, he feels as though he had lost all. That which he has left does not afford him as much comfort or pleasure, as the portion which is lost gives him trouble. This is our na­ture, and may be called improper, as far as tem­poral things are. concerned; for here we observe that God leave_s us more than He permits the devil to take from us. Hence we should not suffer ourselves to be troubled so much on account of temporal loss, but comfort ourselves because we retain something or even the largest portion, and because God can provide for us daily and increase our possessions.

This disposition I also have, our dear Lord saith. Sinners are my purchased and earned goods and possession; I have purchased them by my suf­ferings and death, and it is impossible that I should not be grieved and do all to restore them, in case they go astray and forsake me. I have paid a great price for them, and cannot but be sor­rowful if they fall a prey to the devil after all. Therefore, as soon as one sheep goes astray, I can not help but make the impression as though all the rest did not concern me; I must follow up the lost one and seek it and save it from being caught by the wolf.

So a woman who has many children loves them all and is not willing to lose one of them. If one of them takes sick, this sickness will make a difference between this child and all the rest of the children. The sick one will be the dearest to its mother, and she will take care of it more than of all the rest. If now we would judge the love of the mother by her care, we would have to say: This mother loves only the sick child, not those who are well. So, the Lord says, it is with me in regard to sinners.

Here we have the heart of the Lord Jesus de­scribed in a most friendly and lovely manner. It is impossible to present Him in a more charming and pleasing light, because of the anxiety, care, trouble and labor which He devotes to the restora­tion of poor sinners. He refers us to our own hearts, that we. may realize how we feel when we lose anything which is dear to us. This, He saith, is the condition of my heart: it is tossed and rest­less when I see the devil leading a poor soul into sin and misery.

For this purpose also the Savior makes use of the parable concerning the lost sheep and the good shepherd. There is no condition more mis­erable than that of a sheep that has left the good pasture and strayed from its shepherd. It can not help itself, and is in danger every moment to be caught and devoured by the wolf that is watching for it. In such danger the sheep is helpless, and can do nothing to protect and save itself. A sheep is the most defenseless among all animals. Such also is the helpless condition of a sinner whom Satan has enticed from God and His Word and led into sin.

In this condition he is not safe for a moment, because our enemy, the devil, as St. Peter saith, like a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom be may devour. In such a danger it is our only comfort to have a Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, who interests Himself in our behalf and seeks us, not for the purpose of punish­ing us on account of sin and of casting us into hell-no, this is the object and purpose of the devil-but for the purpose of finding us, laying us on His shoulders rejoicing, and carrying us home, where we shall be safe against the wolf and enjoy the very best of care and pasture.

How such seeking of the sinner is done you all know; it is done by His Word, which is preached and spread everywhere. From this we learn what a misery and burden sin is, which brings eternal damnation on us; but it teaches us also the great fact that God, out of paternal love for us disobeid­ent children, was moved to deliver us from such misery by His Son Jesus Christ, and that He re­quires nothing of us, except to partake of such deliverance with thankful hearts, to believe in the Lord Jesus, to observe God’s Word, and to render cheerful obedience thereto.

When this is heard by the lost sheep or poor sinners and they begin to trust in God through such preaching, they pause and ask: Why was I such a foolish and miserable man that, having such a gracious God, I did not yield to His will, but sub­mitted to the devil and was led by him into disobedience? What good will all the money do me, after which I am craving? Would it not be better to enjoy a moderate temporal gain, which is con­sidered reasonable by everybody, and which may be enjoyed in honor and with the sanction of God, than to be accused of unreasonable usury and to enjoy neither success nor happiness. What good does all celibacy and licentious living afford? Would it not be better to be married and to have a good conscience than to live a single life in sin and disgrace and be in constant dread of the terri­ble judgments of God? What good does all riotous living and intemperance in eating and drinking do you, when followed by bodily disease, sudden death and destruction? Hasten to return and break off such sinful habits, ere God’s wrath overtakes you. God is willing to be gracious unto you, if you were only willing to accept Hie offer, and did not sink deeper into wrath by such wilful sin.

Those who heed such warnings and put their trust in Christ, are found, like lost sheep, by Jesus the Good Shepherd. They listen to His voice and apply to Him in all confidence; and He takes them upon His arms, forgiving them all their sins, and affords them all shelter and defense against the wolf and other wild beasts.

Here we learn the great difference among sinners. In one thing they are all alike: they serve the devil and are disobedient to God. But in another respect they differ. Some, and that the most of them, remain, as they are by nature, in sin, and do not change the least, though they are preached to and instructed ever so much. They comfort themselves and say: There is no danger, God is merciful and will be glad at any time to receive me when it suits me to ask pardon; I will first fully enjoy the world and afterwards go to church, hear the preaching of God’s Word and be pious.

Sheep like these hear the voice of the Shepherd, but they do not want to be found. What are the conse­quences? They go astray more and more every day; they are entangled more and more in the snares of the devil, without being able in the least to free themselves. This we have occasion to observe in the world always. People are even drowned in avarice, licentiousness, rioting and other sins; it becomes their second nature to live in their sins, and they think they cannot live in any other way. We should guard against such a course, but rather flee to the good Shepherd as soon as we hear His voice; that is, repent of our sins, not continue to live in them, but return and amend our ways, and trust that our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, will not leave us in the wilderness, but accept of us and reconcile us to the Father.

Repentance, however, does not mean merely to amend our ways externally and to appear pious, but also to trust in divine grace, for Christ’s sake, and to believe the forgiveness of sin. Such sinners the Savior will accept. He would gladly accept the others also, but they do not want His help, there­fore He must let them go. Because they do not want to be found, they may remain in their lost condition as long as they please, and see what be­comes of them.

Thus our Gospel lesson not only assures the poor sinner that their good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, will seek and accept them as sheep having gone astray; but also teaches us our duty toward this Shepherd, that we should hear His voice and fol­low it. This also is taught by the narrative of our
Gospel. The people had been publicans and sinners, but they drew near Him to hear Him. And what does the Savior tell them? Nothing else but that God is merciful to poor sinners in Christ Jesus, and wants to save them. All He asks of them is to suffer themselves to be entreated; not to go astray any farther, but to return when they hear the voice of the Shepherd, and not to resist the Lord Jesus when He offers to carry them back to the fold, as He has already paid and rendered satisfac­tion for their sins and reconciled them to the Father. And because God has done so much for us and has bestowed His grace abundantly upon us, it is meet that we should not despise His direc­tions and disregard His Word, but do something to please Him.

Let us therefore well notice these teachings, in order that we may be prepared against the temptations of the devil and our own hearts, and over­come all desponding thoughts as though God would have no patience with poor sinners, but condemn them. For such thoughts are to be found in the heart of everyone. Against these we should be well-armed with the Word of God, and especially should we take to heart the figure which the Lord Himself here uses, namely, that He is a Shepherd, who causes His Word to be preached in all the world, in order that the lost sheep may hear and be saved.

Therefore, if you know yourself to be a lost sheep, which has been enticed and led astray by the devil far from the right way, then take to heart this sermon of Christ. For your sake it is preached, in order that you may repent, that is, that you may be comforted by the Lord Jesus and His grace, and be freed from the snares of the devil and become better. As you fear the devil, to be afraid of neg­lecting the voice of the Good Shepherd, but return at once and hasten to follow Him; then you are safe, and the angels in heaven will rejoice, who will then delight in being with you and by their presence and protection defending you· against all the dangers of the devil; whilst the impenitent sinners cause all manner of sorrow, grief and sad­ness to good angels, are deprived of their protection, and are in danger always and everywhere of being lost eternally.

The Lord, however, does not end His teaching with the parable of the shepherd and sheep, but adds another about a woman losing a piece of silver, that others may learn to follow His example, and not to reject the poor sinner, but to seek him and lead him to repentance. The first parable has reference only to our Savior Jesus Christ; for He is the only true and good Shepherd who does not despise the sheep, but gives His life for them, in order that they may be defended and safe against the devil.

The other parable, however, about the woman, re­fers to the Christian Church, which has the minis­terial office, that poor sinners may be led to repent­ance and may be delivered from eternal death and condemnation and be saved. Like the Shepherd, she rejoices when she finds the piece of silver. She lights a candle, the Word of God, and sweeps the house, that is, teaches how we may become pious and comfort ourselves before God and His judg­ment by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. By this kind of preaching the Church finds the lost piece of silver.

In this way, the Word of God is highly hon­ored and praised as the only treasure which takes away sin and all the misery that is caused by sin, such as death, damnation and hell, that we may be no more sinners and enemies of God, but a joy to the angels in heaven and to all saints on earth.­

Therefore we should highly esteem the Word of God, cheerfully hear it and take it to heart, and love and esteem those who preach it, in order that we may enjoy its blessed fruit, be saved from our lost and ruined condition, and be happy forever. May this be granted by the dear and faithful Shepherd of our souls, our dear Lord Jesus Christ, through the Holy Ghost. Amen.