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Lectionary for Sept. 6, 2026
15th Sunday after Pentecost
Ezekiel 33:7-11; Psalm 119:33-40;
Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 18:15-20
I’m just finishing a conference in Philadelphia as I write this. Last night I visited a church here and heard a sermon on loving God and neighbor more than we love ourselves, based on 2 Timothy 3. The preacher set up a clever argument: we love ourselves by ease, and we love others by work.
Loving ourselves is easy: a couch, a snack and a movie will do it for most of us. It takes work to love others. We must protect them, give them what they need, look after their good, learn about their likes and dislikes, and live accordingly. At times, we also may have to challenge a friend. We might have to say, “Hey, we’ve spent enough time eating popcorn and watching movies, let’s go outside and eat a salad.” The lectionary passages this week show us how to lovingly challenge friends to engage in the best of God’s kingdom.
We start with the Gospel reading. Jesus has just given a teaching about the 99 sheep and the one that goes astray. The rejoicing in heaven that happens when one wayward sheep is found and brought back surpasses that for the 99 who didn’t stray. Jesus immediately continues the lesson to talk about what happens when one person goes astray.
Just as the shepherd went out to find the one sheep, one member of the family of God is to go out to the person who has sinned and gone astray. This isn’t a matter of browbeating or accusation. There is no shame here, only love. “Hey, friend, it looks like you went the wrong way. We’d love to have you back!” If the person comes back, fantastic! Jesus says, “You have your sibling back!” (Matthew 18:15).
If the person doesn’t listen, don’t give up. Instead, bring some more shepherds to rescue the sheep/person who is in danger, alone and away from the flock. And, this is a crucial step, it may be that the person who went away didn’t actually sin in the first place. Sometimes there are misunderstandings and different interpretations of what’s right. Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 19:15 to say that one person’s opinion isn’t enough to judge if something is a sin or not. Instead, every matter should be based on at least two to three witnesses. This is a good reminder for us to investigate every matter and make sure we’re not jumping to conclusions.
For those who have chosen to follow paths of abuse and mistreatment of neighbors, may they swiftly heed the loving and gracious voice of God’s people calling them home.
If the sibling is truly and unrepentantly heading away from community and toward danger, we keep going until the voice of the whole community calls out, “Hey, please come back. We miss you and we want you to be safe. Please don’t go the wrong way anymore!” At that point, however, we are supposed to let go. Coercion is not the way of God’s people. Our role is to pursue with love and welcome, and to call folks back from going astray.
Jesus isn’t the first to teach that we have a responsibility to call people back when they are headed the wrong way. Back in Ezekiel, God used the examples of a watcher to describe prophetic responsibility. If a lookout calls out a warning that a city is under siege, whatever happens to the people is their responsibility. But if the lookout sees the danger and doesn’t say anything, not only is death coming for the city but the watcher is guilty of everything that happens after.
Ezekiel was charged with warning the people that they were going the wrong way to their own peril. God cautioned Ezekiel: the people will receive the penalty for their sins, but if you don’t warn them, you’re just as guilty as they are (33:8). God doesn’t take any pleasure in the death of the wicked but graciously offers all the opportunity to repent (11). The warning of sin and the offer of grace was Ezekiel’s message.
We should be clear about the dangers that the Old and New Testaments warn about. Ezekiel’s (25-26) and Paul’s (Romans 13:9, 13) lists have significant overlap: violence, murder and sexual immorality. If we are to be faithful siblings and lookouts, we are to lovingly speak to folks, calling back those who are going the wrong way into danger and abuse. And for those who have chosen to follow paths of abuse and mistreatment of neighbors, may they swiftly heed the loving and gracious voice of God’s people calling them home.
