Spurgeon: September PM
* 09/13/PM
"This man receiveth sinners."
--Luke 15:2
Observe the condescension of this fact. This Man, who
towers above all other men, holy, harmless, undefiled, and
separate from sinners-- this Man receiveth sinners. This Man,
who is no other than the eternal God, before whom angels veil
their faces-- this Man receiveth sinners. It needs an angel's
tongue to describe such a mighty stoop of love. That any of us
should be willing to seek after the lost is nothing wonderful--
they are of our own race; but that He, the offended God, against
whom the transgression has been committed, should take upon
Himself the form of a servant, and bear the sin of many, and
should then be willing to receive the vilest of the vile, this
is marvellous.
"This Man receiveth sinners"; not, however, that they may
remain sinners, but He receives them that He may pardon their
sins, justify their persons, cleanse their hearts by His
purifying word, preserve their souls by the indwelling of the
Holy Ghost, and enable them to serve Him, to show forth His
praise, and to have communion with Him. Into His heart's love
He receives sinners, takes them from the dunghill, and wears
them as jewels in His crown; plucks them as brands from the
burning, and preserves them as costly monuments of His mercy.
None are so precious in Jesus' sight as the sinners for whom He
died. When Jesus receives sinners, He has not some out-of-doors
reception place, no casual ward where He charitably entertains
them as men do passing beggars, but He opens the golden gates of
His royal heart, and receives the sinner right into
Himself--yea, He admits the humble penitent into personal union
and makes Him a member of His body, of His flesh, and of His
bones. There was never such a reception as this! This fact is
still most sure this evening, He is still receiving sinners: would to God sinners would receive Him.