A few years ago, when I was newly attending a church, one of the leaders shared that he was stepping down from his position due to a struggle with a sin. Needless to say, I was shocked… but I also admired his honesty, transparency, and courage to get help; he bore his heart of remorse with the church.
When he finally returned, after months of being gone and getting help, he ended up leaving again for good because he was ostracized. This grieved my heart and made me think: what did Jesus say about sinners? Those who were lost but come back to him?
Knowing this is imperative, as it shows us how we should treat all people, no matter what they did, when they come back to Jesus. We all can get lost in sin and need to come back.
Jesus loves all people and is waiting for them to come back to him; we should be people who show others his love, as he modeled.
Jesus and Sinners
You can read about Jesus with sinners in the Bible, which tells us that he was a “friend of sinners.” He spent time with them, gathered with them, and so should we.
We should never think we are better than anyone or can’t do what they did, as we are in the flesh ourselves and therefore also sin. All of us do.
The Gospel of Luke shows us how Jesus’s heart is for those that are lost. This is seen in Luke 15 through Jesus sharing three parables. He is answering the Pharisees, who are judging him, disapproving of him for embracing sinners and eating with them.
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’” (Luke 15:1-2, ESV)
His heart is also for the poor. Thus, this should be our heart as well.
Love the lost, the poor, and those considered undesirable in this world: they are God’s beloved, too. We shouldn’t distance ourselves from these people but love them as Jesus did.
What Did Jesus Say About Sin?
All the Gospels tell us that Jesus came to this earth for sinners: to die for their sins.
He always wanted to bring us back to him—to have a relationship with him.
In the context of Luke 15, “sinners,” as spoken about by the Pharisees, were those who didn’t follow the Torah loyally (as they felt they did). The Pharisees saw themselves as righteous and, due to this, they wouldn’t hang out with those they saw as objectionable in some way.
Jesus, on the other hand, loves sinners (us) and died for all people out of love.
Due to the fall of mankind, sin entered the world. Jesus died on the cross so all our sins are forgiven; when you accept Jesus, you get to be in eternity with him and he pays the price for your sins.
He takes on the punishment in place for you. You are set free from sin’s power over you so you can walk in freedom. You have that power through Jesus.
Jesus hates sin but we always see Jesus loving sinners. The list of sinners in the Bible includes the woman he spoke to at the well who committed adultery, and Zacchaeus the crooked tax collector who he called to follow him.
It doesn’t matter what someone did or what you did, he loves you. You can repent—turning from whatever it is—and follow him now.
Remember that you are no different than anyone, as you sin also. All sin is the same to God.
We all need to repent. Don’t condemn others. Just love them as Jesus did, living as he did towards others. This is: what does the Bible say about sinners?
Related: What if You Were Serving Jesus?
What Does God Say About Sinners?
Within the three parables Jesus gives in Luke 15, the “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” in Luke 15:11-32 displays the Lord’s heart for those who are lost and is so significant to show us how we too can embrace those who are lost in their sin and come back to Jesus.
If you feel lost in sin right now, it also shows you how Jesus will embrace you if you come back to him. He wants you to come back to him, no matter what you did.
His heart is one of love for you. He is continually pursuing those lost; he is patient as he stands by for people to come back to him, like in the parable, so he can forgive them.
Let’s also take part in God’s mission to help others get restored to him by showing them Jesus.
Below, you will find 3 points to help you to know how you should treat others who are lost and come back to Jesus or that can show you how God will treat you if you repent: turning from your behavior to come back to him.
What Is the Story of the Prodigal Son?
The story of the Prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 is about two sons and a father. One son, the younger one, ordered that his father give him his inheritance. When he got it, he took off, wasting it all, as he was living thoughtlessly.
After losing it all in the midst of a famine, he was in need. This led him to take employment in feeding pigs. As a result, he reconsidered things and decided to go back home to his father.
He admitted his wrongdoing against both God and his father, begging for mercy and asking to labor for him. The father’s response was unexpected.
The love of God is seen through the actions of the father and through his character.
The older brother, on the other hand, was mad and didn’t want him to be welcomed in this manner… which is how you shouldn’t act toward others when they come back.
He showed no joy and complained. Don’t follow his example. Instead do these 3 things below.
1. Show Compassion
Before the son had a chance to admit what he did to his father, the appearance of his son alone coming back home led him to have compassion. He ran to him, showing him beautiful fatherly affection.
“And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20, ESV)
This was not something a father would do in this culture after what his son did. The son’s return was enough to restore their relationship and showed he was sorry for what he did, despite him saying what he said.
“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” (Luke 15:21, ESV)
God right away takes back those who sin when they come back to him. Show others the same kind of compassion and love as God shows it to you. Embrace them with affection and kind words.
2. Restore Others in Their Standing
The father then restored the son to his standing, which is seen through his giving him a robe, a ring, and shoes.
“But the father said to his servants,‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.’” (Luke 15:22, ESV)
Don’t let others feel “less than” for what they did. They are sons and daughters of Jesus and need to be treated that way, as you are.
Restore them to this position. Treat them like it, not ostracizing them when they come back. Shower them with God’s love by embracing them in community, like you would want as a son and daughter of God.
You can give them gifts such as a new Bible, written notes affirming their identity, etc.
3. Celebrate Their Return
After this, they celebrated the son’s return.
“‘And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.” (Luke 15:23-24, ESV)
He was not lost any longer or dead, but had life again.
We need to celebrate those who come back to Jesus. It is a joy-filled thing and these individuals should feel celebrated.
Have a party, go out to eat with them, just celebrate in some way—showing them God is doing the same!
Having life in Jesus as his child means you are set free from sin, as he conquered it. It means the sins you do don’t need to have a hold on you any longer.
You can find freedom from them and not pick up new ones either. Life with him is living in freedom to be his image-bearer, as he intended you to be.
It is so important to know: what did Jesus say about sinners? He loves sinners but not the sin. We need to do the same, as we are in the flesh and sin as well.
The story of the prodigal son teaches us how to embrace others who come back to Jesus. It instructs us to show compassion, restore others in their standing as a son and daughter of God, and celebrate their return.
You should do this with other believers when they come back… and know this is what God does for you when you fall away and come back as well.
Benner, David G. Surrender to Love: Discovering the Heart of Christian Spirituality. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003.
Carroll, John T, and Jennifer K Cox. Luke: A Commentary. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012.
DeSilva, David Arthur. An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods & Ministry Formation. Second edition. Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, 2018.
Swindoll, Charles R. Luke. 1st ed. Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2017.
Thompson, Alan J. Luke. Edited by Andreas J. Köstenberger and Robert W. Yarbrough. Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Academic, 2016.
