Luke 15:3-7 And he spoke this parable to them, saying,… Why should these heavenly beings rise into such an excitement? What have they to do with our repentance down here? We look for an explanation. I. We must bear in mind THE INTENSE SYMPATHY WHICH THESE ANGELS HAVE WITH JEHOVAH, WHO IS GOD OVER ALL. They unceasingly catch their inspiration and impulse from His face, before which they stand. If we were to draw a picture of that shining host, we might represent a throng which no man can number, with gaze all attracted one way towards the throne from which emanates the whole bliss and beauty of that heavenly estate. A gleam of gladness on the ineffable features is reproduced upon the countenances of all in that assemblage, and the quick response beams from every eye, trembles in every voice of eager utterance, and rings out joyously from every struck harp. Thus they serve Him day and night in His temple. Hence, the view which God Himself has of a repentant soul is immediately observed and transmitted. And what that view is, is easily found out (see John 1:18). II. But again: In order to appreciate the full meaning of a gladness so extraordinary as this in heaven, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THESE ANGELS HAVE ALWAYS MANIFESTED AN ABSORBING INTEREST IN MEN AS THE CREATURES OF GOD. They know, better than we know ourselves, we shall have to admit, what we once were, and what we now are, and in the end what we may become by the manifold grace of God. 1. They saw our race at its beginning, before it was defiled by sin. They sang together at the creation (see Job 38:7). It is needful for us to struggle up to gain an adequate idea of what perfect holiness is; they know by intuition; and they saw man when the race was as holy as their own, and they have not forgotten it. 2. They know what we are now better than we know ourselves. We see as in enigma, darkly; they see in the sunshine of God's great love, out of which they know we have fallen. 3. They know what we can become better than we know ourselves. They understand the essential grandeur of grace as a process of renewal and restoration. To them a soul is priceless because it can hold a palm-branch, it can wear a crown, it can sing a song for the King. They measure the supreme height into which the redeemed are advanced when by penitence and faith they are lifted into love. III. Once more: In order to understand this great emotion of the angels, WE MUST RECOLLECT THAT THEY HAVE ALWAYS EXHIBITED AN EAGER INTEREST IN THE PURPOSE AND WORD OF CHRIST AS THE SON OF GOD. 1. This was a matter of great difficulty to them in the beginning. It is not revealed to us that there was any subject which ever attracted their attention more than this scheme of redemption by Jesus. That, we are told, "the angels desire to look into" (see 1 Peter 1:12). 2. The steps of the wonderful disclosure were all under their observation. They saw the Saviour pass by through their shining ranks out of heaven on His way to the world. They marked how He laid aside His glory, and took the form of a servant. But lest they should imagine they were to despise Him in His humiliation, there came then a sudden command through heaven: "Lot all the angels of God worship Him!" Then He moved on. Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Capernaum, Calvary, and Bethany succeeded; at last they saw what it all meant. 3. The risk now must have been fully appreciated. Would this plan succeed? At first these angels seem to have indulged in one irrepressible acclamation of supreme delight; they sang "Glory to God in the highest," over Bethlehem plains. But then they settled back upon their "looking into" the rest. Peering over the battlements of their celestial abode, they watched John the Baptist as he preached repentance; they saw how the whole success or failure turned upon that. Would anybody repent and come back to God's love in answer to the invitation? Must Jesus have died and pleaded in vain? 4. Now think of the announcement of a sinner returning unto purity. Imagine Simon Peter, or Nathanael, or Nicodemus, on bended knees before Christ, the sinner's Friend. Repentance had begun upon earth; the plan of redemption would answer! With what abashed joy these angels must have looked in each other's faces; and then in an instant of delighted wonderment they would seek the Divine Countenance in the throne.Now let our minds slowly receive two or three reflections: 1. See the value of the conversion of just one soul. "One sinner that repenteth." What is Zion's glory? Read Psalm 87:5, 6. 2. When angels are so excited, how strange seems our apathy! Just out of sight is a world all alive with enthusiasm and zeal. 3. Is it possible that angels cars more for sinners' salvation than some of the sinners seem to care for themselves to be saved? (C. S. Robinson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he spake this parable unto them, saying, |
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