1484. The Attitude of Christ Toward the Sinner

The Attitude of Christ Toward the Sinner

"The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luk_19:10).

A man may be rich, or he may be poor, without being particularly known as a sinner.

The Lord Jesus, however, welcomed sinners. He came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

1. Let us observe the Lord eating with publicans and sinners. A group of the common people, known among the Pharisees as publicans and sinners, were giving a feast. As they ate together, the Lord Jesus quietly slipped into their midst and sat down with them. Some of the scribes and Pharisees observing what was done, said: "This Man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them."

The words were spoken as a fling at Christ. They challenged the Lord. They questioned the standing of one who would countenance such a fellowship.

In response to their jeer and their jest, our Lord gave a threefold parable justifying His reception of sinners.

(1) The lost sheep. Christ told how the shepherd would leave the ninety and nine to go after the lost until he found it, and that when he found it, he would put it upon his shoulders rejoicing and bring it home.

(2) The lost coin. Christ told how a woman losing a piece of money, a valued heirloom, would, with lighted candle, sweep the house diligently until she found it, and when she had found it, she would call her neighbors and friends together, saying, "Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost."

(3) The lost son. Christ told how the son who had wandered away and spent his money with riotous living, returned home and was welcomed, forgiven, kissed, clothed and feasted.

In this threefold parable, the Lord Jesus settled once and for all the fact that Christ loves the sinner and welcomes him unto salvation. In fact both God the Father and God the Spirit were brought by Christ into His parable to demonstrate their compassion for the lost.

The truth is that "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

2. Let us observe the poor publican as he prays to God. The publican was a sinner–a sinner disdained and defamed by the self-righteous Pharisee. The Pharisee prayed thus within himself, "I thank Thee, that I am not as other men * * or even as this publican." The publican, realizing his sin, and understanding his unworthiness, "would not so much as lift up his eyes unto Heaven, but smote upon his breast saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."

The Lord emphatically said, concerning the publican; "This man went down to his house justified rather than the other."

The Lord does not put a premium upon sinning, but He seeks the sinner and gladly forgives, justifies and saves him,

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR