Third. ‘And when he saw their faith, he said unto the man, Thy sins are forgiven thee’ (Luke 5:20).
This man had not righteousness to stand just before God withal, for his sins as yet remained unforgiven; wherefore, seeing guilt remained until Christ remitted him, he was discharged while ungodly. And observe it, the faith here mentioned is not to be reckoned so much the man’s, as the faith of them that brought him; neither did it reach to the forgiveness of sins, but to the miracle of healing; yet this man, in this condition, had his sins forgiven him.
But again; set the case, the faith was only his, as it was not, and that it reached to the doctrine of forgiveness, yet it did it without respect to righteousness in himself; for guilt lay still upon him, he had now his sins forgiven him. But this act of grace was a surprise; it was unlooked for. ‘I am found of them that sought me not’ (Isa 65:1). They came for one thing, he gave them another; they came for a cure upon his body, but, to their amazement, he cured first his soul. ‘Thy sins are forgiven thee.’ Besides, to have his sins forgiven betokened an act of grace; but grace and works as to this are opposite (Rom 11:6). Therefore ‘men are justified from the curse, in the sight of God, while sinners in themselves.’
Fourth. ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son’ (Luke 15:21).
What this man was is sufficiently declared in verse 13, &c. As 1. A riotous spender of all—of time, talent, body, and soul. 2. He added to this his rebellion and great contempt of his father’s house—he joined himself as a stranger, and became an associate with swine (vv 15,17). At last, indeed, he came to himself. But then observe—(1.) He sought no justification by personal performances of his own; (2.) Neither did he mitigate his wickedness; (3.) Nor excuse himself before his father; but first, resolve to confess his sin; and coming to his father, did confess it, and that with aggravating circumstances. ‘I have sinned against heaven; I have sinned against thee; I am no more worthy to be called thy son’ (v 18). Now what he said was true or false. If true, then he had no righteousness. If false, he could not stand just in the sight of his father by his own performances. And, indeed, the sequel of the parable clears it. His ‘father said to his servant, Bring forth the best robe,’ the justifying righteousness, ‘and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet’ (v 22). This best robe, then, being in the father’s house, was not in the prodigal’s heart; neither stayed the father for further qualifications, but put it upon him as he was, surrounded with sin and oppressed with guilt. Therefore ‘men are justified from the curse, in the sight of God, while sinners in themselves.’
Fifth. ‘For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost’ (Luke 19:10).
The occasion of these words was, for that the Pharisees murmured because ‘Jesus was gone to be guest to one that was a sinner,’ yea, a sinner of the publicans, and are most fitly applied to the case in hand. For though Zaccheus climbed the tree, Jesus Christ found him first, and called him down by his name; adding withal, ‘For today I must abide at thy house’ (v 5); which being opened by verse, is as much as to say, I am come to be thy salvation. Now this being believed by Zaccheus, ‘he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully.’ And not only so, but to declare to all the simplicity of his faith, and that he unfeignedly accepted of this word of salvation, he said unto the Lord, and that before all present, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation,’ a supposition intimating an affirmative, ‘I restore him fourfold.’ This being thus, Christ doubled his comfort, saying to him also, before the people, ‘This day is salvation come to this house.’ Then, by adding the next words, he expounds the whole of the matter, ‘For I have come to seek and save that which was lost’; to seek it till I find it, to save it when I find it. He finds them that sought him not (Rom 10:20); and saith, Zaccheus, Behold me! to a people that asked not after him. So, then, seeing Jesus found this publican first, preaching salvation to him before he came down from the tree, it is evident he received this as he was a sinner; from which faith flowed his following words and works as a consequence.
