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Dealing with Sin-Problems in Depth

Text: Matthew 18 : 1 - 14

Jesus knew how deep and deadly the danger presented by the quest for greatness. If it was not dealt with thoroughly, the search for personal greatness could be most corrupting! Point by point, Jesus taught His disciples how they may deal with this problem of the quest for personal greatness. He was not done yet, He still had to teach them how they must develop a heart of a good shepherd!

THE HEART OF A GOOD SHEPHERD

Didn’t the disciples understand the heart of Jesus after all this while? Then they must learn how to have the heart of a good shepherd.

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep,
and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine
and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?
And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you,
he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine
that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father
who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”
MATTHEW 18:12-14

What did Jesus want His disciples to learn in this statement?

1. Personal greatness is not what a good shepherd searches for

A good shepherd has a strong sense of duty! He is deeply committed to the task entrusted him. He is dedicated to his task of looking after every single sheep entrusted to his care! His mind is not filled with thoughts of greatness at all.

2. The good shepherd will devote his energy to caring for the entire flock

The task of the shepherd is well known. He works very hard. He is up at crack of dawn and he devotes his time to caring for his flock. He brings them to good pastureland. He protects the sheep from enemies. He tends them well even if there is personal danger involved. The image of a good shepherd was something that Jesus wanted to implant into the hearts of His disciples, not foolish quests for personal greatness.

3. The good shepherd will search high and low for that one lost sheep

The picture that Jesus painted with words became more graphic as He spoke. The disciples could see in their mind’s eye the lost sheep! They knew what a good and true shepherd would do. He would firstly ensure the safety of the ninety-nine and then go out to search for that one lost sheep.

4. The joy of the good shepherd

Wherein is the joy of the good shepherd? Would his joy be found in comparison to the way other shepherds worked? Would his joy be found in the largeness of the flock he is entrusted with?

a) The joy of being a shepherd

Anyone who does not delight in the work of a shepherd will never make it in his vocation. Joy in one’s work is one of the clearest indications of a calling.

b) The joy of tending the faithful ninety-nine

There is great joy in looking after the faithful! A good shepherd is grateful and glad that most of his sheep are obedient and responsive to the shepherd. There are few things that will delight the heart of a good shepherd than the picture of his sheep faring well under his care.

c) The joy of finding the lost sheep that had gone astray

The shepherd knows that some sheep are more prone to wander away than others. He recognizes that the work of finding a lost sheep is most demanding! Yet, because he is a good and faithful shepherd, he will do his utmost to find that lost sheep. The joy he finds in his heart when he locates and rescues the lost sheep and brings it back to the fold is incomparable joy!

When the disciples cultivate their hearts carefully, they will understand what Jesus meant. Many years later, one of these disciples wrote about being a good shepherd.

“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you,
serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly,
not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
nor as being lords over those entrusted to you,
but being examples to the flock;
and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive
the crown of glory that does not fade away.”
1 PETER 5:2-4

Peter must have taken to heart this deep teaching that Jesus devoted much time to impart to His disciples!

THE WILL OF THE FATHER IN HEAVEN

Did the disciples truly want to follow Jesus? Then they must seek to walk in His footsteps? They must also make sure that they understand the will of God! Jesus was a fantastic example of One who sought always to do His Father’s will.

What was the Father’s will for ALL His servants? It certainly was not to search for personal greatness! The Father’s will was that none of His “little ones” perishes! They may well be “lost sheep”. In that case, the disciples would do well to expend their energy searching for the lost and bringing them back safely to the fold, rather than to search for personal glory. Are we seeking lost sheep?