Pentecost 17 (3)

(NIV)

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

In we have three parables about a situation we can all relate to. Someone or something has been lost. In our sports orientated society, those who support their favorite teams are often traumatized about a loss that their team suffers. We may vividly recall the final game of the 1982 World Series, The Superbowl when the Packers played the Broncos, Game 7 of the eastern conference finals in the NBA earlier this year, the most recent Packers and Brewers games. All were losses for our Wisconsin teams. Some of those losses we may think we will never get over.

Of course, Jesus isn’t talking about losing a game. He is talking about losing an item or a person.

Have you ever lost a treasured possession due to fire or flooding, theft, or just having displaced it?

Those who possess animals whether they be pets or farm animals, can most likely relate stories of how their dog ran away, the cat didn’t make it across the road, or the dairy cow succumbed to a sudden illness.

The worst case scenario is when a person in our care becomes lost. It has been almost a year that we were stunned to learn of the loss of a teenager in Barron, WI.

Gordon, Wisconsin, U.S. The kidnapping of Jayme Closs occurred on October 15, 2018, when Jake Thomas Patterson abducted thirteen-year-old Jayme Lynn Closs from her family's home in Barron, Wisconsin, around 12:53 a.m. after forcing his way inside and fatally shooting her father and mother.

No matter what we lose, the greater we were attached to that which was lost, the more heartache we would experience when they are lost. Thursday night the Los Angeles Rams lost at the end of the game to the Seattle Seahawks because they missed a field goal. Doesn’t really bother me like the numerous times the Packers lost the Seahawks in the same stadium. I see animals that didn’t quite make it across the road. Doesn’t bother me like when my favorite cat, Midnight, went missing for almost 18 months. I read obituaries quite often but if it isn’t someone I knew, I am not nearly as sad is when it was someone close to me.

The reason Jesus taught these parables was to emphasize that there are certain people that others could care less about and the fact that they were lost didn’t seem to bother them in the least . . . but it mattered to Jesus.

Luke begins this chapter with a situation for which we are thankful. Tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around Jesus to hear him and Jesus welcomed them and ate with them.

Axiom: It is good to gather around to hear Jesus. This is why we consider worship to be so important. It is not because those who come to church will most likely bring an offering and support the church. It is not so we can brag about how great our attendance is. It is not for just a social gathering. We consider worship to be so important because it is our prime opportunity to hear Jesus. Consider this: How often do you read God’s Word, listen to biblical instruction in your life, are told that God loves you and your sins are forgiven outside of the church worship service? We would also put Bible class and confirmation and Sunday school classes as prime opportunities to gather together to hear Jesus.

In the story of Mary and Martha, Jesus commends Mary for sitting at his feet and listening and not Martha who was busy getting his dinner ready.

Axiom: Jesus welcomes us. We really don’t deserve to have Jesus speak to us. “Our sins have separated us from God.” We are not worthy to come into his presence. In a sense, he should treat us as the self-righteous Pharisees and teachers of the law treated the tax collectors and sinners. They had nothing to do with them because they blatantly sinned against God and had no regard for him or his Word.

We can relate to their attitude. Every so often there is an article in the newspaper or on the radio or TV that a sex offender is being released and is looking for a place to live.

Imagine watching a paroled sex offender who committed unspeakable crimes against children move in next door to you. And imagine that you’ll have to see them, complete with a GPS tracker strapped to their ankle, every single day. They’re in your neighborhood legally, and you’re completely powerless to remove them.

While many states have residency restrictions for sex criminals, none completely forbid them from living near children. That means that a child abuser could live right next door to your family and there's nothing you can do about it.

Steering clear of them all the time would be almost impossible. What would you do if you had to pick up mail that was accidentally delivered to their house? What would you say if they showed up on your doorstep and asked you for a cup of sugar?

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While current laws can’t help you in this situation, that doesn’t mean you have to tolerate living near potentially dangerous criminals. With a little creativity and community organizing, you can purge your neighborhood of people who might put your family at risk.

While current laws can’t help you in this situation, that doesn’t mean you have to tolerate living near potentially dangerous criminals. With a little creativity and community organizing, you can purge your neighborhood of people who might put your family at risk.

This article promotes the plan to get the sex offender to leave and be someone else’s problem. Certainly, there is no desire to welcome them and eat with them as Jesus did.

Another article calls for communication and understanding.

Consider joining with another neighbor to meet the offender

RConsider joining with another neighbor to meet the offender

Consider approaching the person with an offer of support, perhaps through the probation or parole office. Remember, you may already know this person or know their family and friends. Even if they are new in your community, they are a part of it now. If the person who sexually abused is open and honest about the past, they may really be trying to change and live a different life. Show your support for their willingness to live a different life that keeps children safe. Your support and watchfulness can help in their recovery. It is also a chance to alert them that you know about their past and are aware of their actions today.

I chose the example of sex offender because they are perhaps the sinners we are most concerned about just as the Bible here chose the most notorious of sinners in Jesus’ day. It is not meant to imply that they are the worst of sinners.

But it does bring up an important issue. I would hope that we regard ourselves humbly as children of God who seek to live holy and godly lives to the glory of the Lord who saved us from our sins. (passage).

(NIV)

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

I would hope that we recognize the “tax collectors and sinners” in our lives and don’t just give them a pass with the lame comment about their sinful lifestyle “Not that there is anything wrong with that.” After all, we commanded to confront the sinner (see passages)

(NIV)

1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load.

I would think that Jesus didn’t just sit down to have drinks and a meal with notorious sinners as though they had done nothing wrong. This would be inconsistent with his message of repentance. What most like happened (even though we don’t have the specific narrative) is that he would address their sins, call on them to repent, assure them that he came to save sinners, instruct them to “Go, and sin no more.” and rejoice with them in their new life devoted to him.

Why did he do this? His parables shed light on this. These people mattered to him! Just as certain teams, items, animals, and people matter to us and lead us to do for them, sinners matter to Jesus and he came to seek and to save those who were lost. He did not shun them, avoid them, abuse them, or condemn them but in love reached out to them to restore them.

(NIV)

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

St. Paul teaches this as a key component of Christianity.

(NIV)

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

Application: We find this very comforting in our own lives. We have done some pretty shameful things in our lives that we hope that only we and God will ever know. We are grateful that God has forgiven our sins and concealed them. We can sing with confidence the hymn based on St. Paul’s confession: “Jesus sinner does receive.”

I believe the main thrust of these parables is God’s love for the sinner and the rejoicing that ensues over those who repent.

These parables are also used to teach us how we are to treat our fellow sinners. In the Welcome Home program, the parable of the Lost Son is used to remind us of how beneficial it is to welcome back the sinner who repents. In this parable of the Lost Sheep, we are reminded about how (because they matter to us) we are to be intentional in seeking out the lost with the Law and the Gospel.

Conclusion: Who are the “tax collectors and sinners” in your life? Is the notorious person in the neighborhood who sinful actions are transparent? Is it the good person who regularly despises the means of grace? Is it that person who is on the wrong path that needs to be restored? Jesus made it his mission to reach out and seek out those who have wandered away even though certain self-righteous people complained and disagreed with his goals. He teaches that there is much rejoicing over those who have repented. May his teaching assure us that we have been found and may it encourage us to seek out the lost as well and rejoice when they are found.

A recent Volkswagen commercial features a song by Johnny Cash “These are My People” and shows a variety of different scenes of families getting into Volkswagen who are obviously of different ethnicities. The message is clear. Volkswagen vehicles are mean for all people regardless of their ethnicity.

Do you find this even the least bit ironic? A German automobile company promoting equality among different types of people? I find it ironic because there was a time in the past century when the leaders of the German people fueled the fires of race superiority and engaged in one of the most notorious periods of ethnic cleansing the world has ever seen. At that time there is no way anyone following the government leadership would have agreed to such a tolerant approach as is portrayed by the song or the commercial.

Point: We live in a world which has marked differences when it comes to racial equality. But it is not limited to race. We see people divided over gender, political views, social/economic status, religion, personal conduct, and the list goes on.

It may surprise us that this was prevalent in biblical times among God’s people as well. At times (to preserve the truth) God himself would command his chosen people not to associate with non Israelites (see example). We even have teachings from St. Paul to avoid others at times for disciplinary reasons (Not to associate with immoral people). Jesus commands us that after we have made every attempt to warn the sinner who does not repent, we are to “treat them like a tax collector”.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 18

Lastly, If even this fail, regard him as no longer a brother Christian, but as one “without”—as the Jews did Gentiles and publicans.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 18

as a Gentile and a tax collector In the narrative’s Jewish context, Gentiles and tax collectors would be regarded as outsiders (see note on Matt 5:46; note on 5:47). This instruction to cut ties with the unrepentant sinner is intended to remove sin from the local group of believers.

The Bible Guide Dealing with Sin (18:15–20)

Only in the last resort should the whole church get involved. If the person who is in the wrong persists, he or she is to be avoided, just as the Pharisees avoid tax collectors.

Bible History Commentary: New Testament 50. Brotherly Admonition

“And if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector” (v. 17). A pagan or Gentile was outside the people of Israel, not a member of God’s people. Every dishonest tax collector or publican was separated from God’s people, for by choosing the work of gathering taxes for the Romans he had cast in his lot with the enemies of Israel. So Jesus was saying: By his impenitence the offending brother declares that he no longer wants to be a follower of Jesus; he has chosen the way of disobedience and defiance toward God, not the way of obedient faith and love toward the Savior. Then the church pronounces the verdict, which is not its own, but Christ’s, that the sinner is excluded from the Christian fellowship, the church, because of his impenitence.

This action of expelling someone from the fellowship of believers is the last effort of love to jolt the offender out of his impenitence and to bring him to his spiritual senses. The church is in a sad state when the love of its members is not strong enough to take this last step to win a brother, but evades the responsibility to which their Lord has bound them by pious-sounding excuses that such an action is “too harsh,” “loveless,” or “legalistic.”

The Expositor’s Greek Testament, Volume I (Matthew–John): Commentary Chapter 18: Moral Training of the Disciples

this failing, the offender puts himself outside the society, and there is nothing for it but to treat him as a heathen or a publican; which does not mean with indifference or abhorrence, but carefully avoiding fellowship with him in sin, and seeking his good only as one without.

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament Chapter 18

Let him be to thee as the heathen—To whom thou still owest earnest good-will, and all the offices of humanity.

This statement has been interpreted in many ways. How did the faithful treat tax collectors? Is Jesus saying to avoid them or is he saying to welcome sinners and eat with them?

Axioms: God wants all men to be saved and Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost and in doing so he did associate with them.

Those sinners who do not repent and continue in their sinful ways are to be excommunicated but not hated.

Application: Our goal is to move toward the unapproachable people in seeking them out. The goal is to bring them back in. Even though there are some who will stubbornly refuse, our prayer is that they will be found and that there will be much rejoicing.