1. Jesus wants the faithful who love God to show it through shepherding the lost who also love God.

1.1. (Mat 9:9-13 w/36)

1.2. (13) “sinners” = Lost people who love God - versus lost people who love self/their sin. Jesus made the former a priority in His ministry (versus the latter who were a waste of time – TBD). “I desire compassion and not sacrifice” (Hos 6:6 “in the knowledge [understanding] of God rather than sacrifice”) = What God wants most from us as the sign of our love and loyalty are not those things or acts which require no exercise in understanding (“sacrifice”) but those that do (“compassion”) – especially in relation to those whose hearts are tender to God (they love Him) but are lost/have lost their way (“sinners”) (see Mat 12:1-7) = The Pharisees’ handling of the disciples was wrong (they “condemned the innocent”) because they did not take the time to understand them.

1.3. This (then) is what is behind the word “shepherd” in verse 36 (notice its connection to “compassion”) = A person who takes the time to understand at a deep level, the life of another, for the purpose of gaining their trust and effectively caring for them. In this case, caring for their spiritual needs (including evangelism – see v35).

1.4. This call to shepherd the lost who love God starts w/those in the covenant community (like those Jesus is speaking to in Mat 9) including our spouses and kids [the given – hence in re: to shepherds over the church – 1Ti 3:4-5]) but extends also to those outside the covenant community (those welcomed to God)(Act 1:8 w/13:48 “appointed for eternal life” = The lost outside the covenant community whose hearts are inclined to love God; 2Pe 3:9 “you…any” = Those who are lost yet love God – or inclined to love God – e.g., Neh 9:8). 

1.5. The identity of the lost who love God = People who are distressed and dispirited by their sin because they have a heart inclined toward God – i.e., they love Him and don’t want to hurt Him (Luk 19:1-10 – Notice it is Jesus Who befriends Zaccheus leading to his repentance; similar w/the woman at the well – Joh 4:7-22 w/28-30).

1.6. The identity of the lost who love self/their sin = They are distressed and dispirited by God who makes them feel bad about the fact that they truly love self/their sin (or the world – i.e., darkness – Joh 1:5, 3:19-20).

1.7. Those who truly love God in their hearts will also love and want to follow Christ (Joh 5:39-42, 8:44).

1.8. It is important to note that those who love for God (Christ) will do so be because Who He is and what He represents (life and light [law – Isa 2:1-5], grace and truth [or compassion/mercy, lovingkindness and truth/faithfulness], righteousness, justice and equity [which includes transparency and honesty about who we are – Joh 3:21; Joh 1:1-4, 14 [Exo 34:6]; Joh 14:6; Psa 99:4 w/Isa 11:1-5) ---versus what they get from God in terms of material blessings etc., (e.g., Luk 8:13-15 “an honest and good heart” = They love God b/c of Who He is not what He gives them – hence why the rocky and thorny soil eventually fall away – the things they wanted from God they can get a lot quicker from the world world; See similar in Heb 6:4-6 = They loved God for what He gave them [“tasted the heavenly gift…partakers of the HS…tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come”] versus Who He is).

1.8. PNTM w/respect to the identity of the lost who love self/their sin = They may believe they love God but their reasons for doing so are narcissistic. They operate as though God is their investment versus what is actually true: we are God’s investment (and He expects a good return!). As a result, they care very little about righteousness/doing the right thing unless it gets them something. God is just a means to further their love of self (i.e., God is their sponsor) (Joh 6:1-15 w/25-26 w/66-68).

2. Jesus doesn’t want His faithful to invest themselves in the lives of the lost who love self/their sin.

2.1. (Mat 10:1-15)

2.2. (12-14) = Don’t’ give your time to the lost who love self/their sin as evidenced by their less than interested attitude toward the things of God or sadness over their sin.

2.3. Why Jesus doesn’t want us to invest ourselves in the lost who love self/their sin:

1) Because there is nothing we can say or do to change their situation (the problem is moral not intellectual – no amount of reasoning will remove their love for darkness [sin/self and the world] Joh 14:22-24 = There is no point in disclosing Myself/attempting to reach those who don’t love Me/are not inclined to love Me because they will never obey/be faithful).

2) Because it takes time away from the lost who love God (and need our help) which weakens us as a church (we are only as strong as our weakest link) and our mission in reaching others (hence Mat 9:37-38).

3) Because it can lead to discouragement – even depression or feelings of hopelessness (e.g., 1Ki 19:1-9 = Focus on the darkness in our midst can so eclipse the good [18:36-40] that we lose meaning [and hope or motivation] in the struggle). Remembering this last point becomes even more important when we realize that the majority of the lost we will encounter (in the church and outside in the world) are those that love self/their sin (they love the world and darkness and not God).

3. Jesus wants the lost who love God (or are inclined to love God) to know that He (still) loves them and is the secret to receiving permanent relief from their struggles with sin. 

3.1. (Mat 11:28-30)

3.2. (28) “All who are weary and heavy-laden” = The lost who love God/inclined to love God but continue to be burdened by their sin (who are dispirited and distressed by their struggle with sin – hating it/desiring to be done with it).

3.3. (28/29) I will give you rest…you will find rest” = You will overcome your struggles with sin and be able to live faithful to God consistent with your love for Him.

3.4. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me” = The secret to overcoming is becoming My disciple (which entails two things):

1) “take My yoke upon you” = Take the covenant (vows) of faith through the waters of baptism necessary to cleansing your soul and becoming a new creation (Tit 3:5; Joh 3:1-16 [vv1-11 = baptism where we become new creations; vv12-16 = vows of faith/fidelity – vv12-16).

2) learn from Me” = Live learning to imitate Me (i.e., to bear my image instead of your own [seeking to be yourself or possess your own identity/life]; Mat 16:24-25 [“follow” = Imitate; “loses his life for My sake” = Forfeits the search for self bc it has been replaced by seeking to instead be a reflection of Christ – His self/image]; Joh 12:25-26). According to Paul, this second part (the “secret”) was implied in our baptism (Rom 6:1-11 “alive to God in [the imitation] of Christ”) and God’s plan from the beginning (Rom 8:29)

3.5. The instruments of love (for Him/God) and imitation are what Jesus uses to restore “lost” Peter after his thrice denial (Joh 21:15-19).

CLOSING CONTEMPLATION:  

1) Which one do you feel you cannot live without: the promotion of God or the promotion of self (btw: only one can be true – Mat 6:24)?

2) Do you live as though God is your investment or you as His investment?

3) Is your life dedicated to learning and putting into practice the imitation of Christ (to being the best Christ-version of you – Phi 1:21)? Does looking forward to this as your life’s focus excite – or depress you?  

4) How do we reconcile today’s teaching w/: 3.1.) Romans 3:11 [Psa 14:1-3, 53:1-3], 3.2.) Psalm 73:25-26 and Mat 6:19-20?