“Feed My Lambs”–a Sunday School Sermon

DELIVERED ON LORD'S-DAY MORNING, OCTOBER 15, 1882,

BY C. H. SPURGEON,

AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON.

"So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of
Jonas, do you love Me more than these? He said unto Him, Yes, Lord; You
know that I love You. He said unto him, Feed My lambs." John 21:15.

READ the whole chapter and observe the change of scene. First, they are
on the lake fishing, casting their nets at Christ's command, and
dragging to land a multitude of great fishes. They have all come on
shore and when they have breakfasted, their faces are not turned to the
sea, but to the pastures on the hillside. These are clothed with flocks
and the Master says no more about fishermen and fish, but speaks of
shepherds and sheep. Herein lies a parable–the servants of the Lord
Jesus are first, fishermen, and then shepherds. The first work of
Christ's servants is comprised in that commission, "Go you into all the
world and preach the Gospel to every creature," or, "Launch out into
the deep and let down your nets for a draught."

They begin their heavenly vocation as fishers, even as Jesus said to
them at the first, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Their earliest work is to preach the Gospel, which is like the letting
down of a great seine net, enclosing life of all kinds. They are not to
make a selection of characters so as to preach only to likely
persons–that would be comparable to angling–a figure which is used in
the Old Testament in connection with destruction–and not in reference
to salvation, even as Amos says, "The Lord God has sworn by His
holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that He will take you
away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks."

In Gospel fishing we let down the big net and thus encompass many of
all sorts. In the act of preaching the Gospel, all are fish that come
to the net–the sorting of the good from the bad is to be done another
day. Our urgent work–I mean yours and mine, my Brothers–is to go out
into the world and proclaim the blessed Gospel of salvation to all who
care to hear us. We are to go into every place to which we can gain
access–"into all the world," "into the streets and lanes of the city,
into the highways and hedges"–anywhere and everywhere the world over.
Our one instrument as fishers for Christ is the Gospel of the Grace of
God. God forbid that we should use any other. May the Lord help us to
keep to our fishing and may we come and instantly receive Divine
direction as to how and where to cast the net so that we may have a
full net, and yet a net unbroken, with which we may fish again.

After this is done, and while it is being done, another art is to be
practiced. Fishing is not all, as many seem to think. It is a great
part of our service and would God it were more attended to, but after
it has been attended to, shepherding comes in, and is a work of equal
weight. Our Lord Jesus Christ would have His servants attend to this
second task with all their hearts. If souls are converted, they have
been brought up from the depths of sin and the scene changes–we see a
flock, "the Church of God which He has purchased with His own blood."
This flock needs as much care as any other, yes, it needs to be tended
with the utmost labor and watchfulness.

The Lord Jesus, Himself, is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life
for the sheep, the Great Shepherd who is brought, again, from the dead
and the Chief Shepherd under whom He has appointed shepherds to watch
for the souls of men. He will have those of us whom He calls to His
service to shepherd those who are converted–leading, protecting,
feeding, comforting and succoring them. He will call us to account if
we neglect this charge, for He will require His flock at our hands,
saying, "Where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?"
This shepherd work is so important that three times the Savior bids us
attend to it, saying first, "Feed My lambs," then, "Feed My sheep," or,
as some old manuscripts have it, "My little sheep," and then, again,
"Feed My sheep."

We are to feed the babes in Grace; to shepherd the young men in Christ
Jesus; and to feed the older ones who feel many growing infirmities and
need, again, the comforts of their earliest days. Three times over are
we thus bid! Are we, then, so apt to fail in this? Jesus spoke but once
to Death, and Lazarus came forth. Are we more deaf than the grave and

must we be thrice commanded? Let us no longer be disobedient to the
heavenly mandate! We must never so evangelize the outside mass as to
forget to fold and feed those within! We are to disciple all nations
and then to teach them all things whatever Christ has commanded us!

Not every man that can haul in a net is ready, at once, to tend a
flock. We need much Grace, for the Lord Jesus Christ spent years in
most industriously educating the 12, training the 70 and getting ready
a band of followers who were not only saved, but educated, so as to
teach others. We must not be indifferent to this matter. The quiet work
of building up Believers must be steadily pursued, even though those
who sound a trumpet before them may despise such ministries.

I shall speak, this morning, upon work within the fold–the feeding of
the sheep and lambs–and this I shall do in order that I may help our
beloved Sunday school teachers. This is their day and if I do not seem
to speak directly or exclusively to them, I hope I shall, nevertheless,
say much to stimulate and direct them in their invaluable labors. I ask
for them your most earnest prayers and loving sympathies–and of many I
would beg a more practical cooperation with them. Concerning this
shepherding for Christ, let us first note the sphere–"My lambs."
Secondly, the man for it–one like Simon, son of Jonas. Thirdly, his
preparation for it. Fourthly, the work itself and, fifthly, the motive
under which the feeding is to be carried out. Briefly on each point. Oh
for help from the Spirit of God!

I. First, think of THE SPHERE. Although in the other instances, Jesus
says, "Feed My sheep," yet in this first instance, He says, "Feed My
lambs." To whom does He refer? I think, first, to such as are little in
Grace. They have but a grain of mustard seed of faith as yet–their
love is not a flame, but a spark–the leaven of Grace within them has
begun to work, but all the measures of meal are not yet leavened. The
spiritual life in these is like a candle newly lit, apparently in
danger of being suddenly blown out and, therefore, needing great care.

Weakness is an idea in the word, "lambs," and so, in the Church of God,
all such as are weak–and, alas, how many there are–all such as are
doubting, all such as are slenderly instructed, all such as are easily
bewildered in doctrine, cast down in spirit and apt to be
staggered–all such, I say, are to be watched over with special care
and, therefore, Jesus mentions them particularly and separately and in
the first place. If our kindness should neglect the strong, it would be
a sad pity, but it might not entail so much damage as if we neglect the
weak! What says the Apostle? "Comfort the feebleminded; support the
weak; be patient towards all men."

In our numbers we always have a few who wear the weeds of spiritual
widowhood. These are very sincere, but sadly anxious, scarcely knowing
what full assurance means, but yet true and resolute. Their faith is a
trembling one, crying, "Lord, I believe; help You my unbelief." Such
are not to be blamed, nor avoided, nor despised, nor in the least
degree discouraged. But, inasmuch as we, ourselves, may also be tempted
with like fears, we are to console them. We ought to know that if we
are strong, our strength lies not in ourselves, for our own strength is
perfect weakness and, therefore, we should deal graciously and tenderly
with the weak of the flock. I think this is the reason why the weak
were committed to Simon Peter in this particular case–because he had
been very weak, himself–he had denied his Master through his fears and
thus he was taught to have compassion on other trembling ones.

He who is, himself, compassed with infirmities, knows the heart of the
weaklings. He can enter with sympathy into their doubts and their
distresses, for he has felt the same. I say, therefore, this morning,
in the name of the Lord Jesus, to all of you who love Him, "Look well
to the weak ones of the Church." But I cannot think, as some expositors
do, that weakness is the main idea in the word, "lambs," for the notion
of a lamb is not confined to the thought of weakness, since full-grown
sheep may be weak and lambs may be vigorous. But the most prominent
thought is that ofyouth. The lambs are the young of the flock, So,
then, we ought to look specially and carefully after those who are
young in Divine Grace. They may be old in years and yet they may be
mere babes in Grace as to the length of their spiritual life and,
therefore, they need to be under a good shepherd.

As soon as a person is converted and added to the Church, he should
become the object of the care and kindness of his fellow members. He
has but newly come among us and has no familiar friends among the
saints. Therefore let us all be friendly to him. Even should we leave
our older comrades, we must be doubly kind towards those who are newly
escaped from the world and have come to find a refuge with the Almighty
and His people. Watch with ceaseless care over those newborn babes who
are strong in desires, but strong in nothing else! They have but just
crept out of darkness and their

eyes can scarcely bear the light–let us be a shade to them until they
grow accustomed to the blaze of Gospel Day. Addict yourselves to the
holy work of caring for the feeble and despondent.

Peter, Himself, that morning, must have felt like a newly enlisted
soldier, for he had, in a sense, ended his public Christian life by
denying his Lord, and he had begun it, again, when he "went out and
wept bitterly." He was now making a new confession of his faith before
his Lord. And Brothers and, therefore, because he was thus made to
sympathize with recruits, he is commissioned to act as a guardian to
them. Young converts are too timid to ask for our help and so our Lord
introduces them to us–and with an emphatic word of command He says,
"Feed My lambs." This shall be our reward, "Inasmuch as you have done
it unto one of the least of these, you have done it unto Me."

But surely we must include in this those who have been converted while
young in years. We thank God exceedingly that we have among us and
round about us many dear children that already know Christ. We have
never, as a Church, thought that a certain number of years must have
passed over a child before it can confess its faith in Christ and be
received into the Church. It is sometimes said that we teach adult
Baptism. We do nothing of the sort! We practice Believer's Baptism, and
baptize all who confess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whether they
are children or adults! Our enquiry as to fitness does not refer to
age, but to faith.

The number or the fewness of days or years is no consideration,
whatever, with us! Our question is, "Do you believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ?" If that is fairly answered, we say at once, "What hinders you
to be baptized?" However young a Believer may be, he should make an
open confession of his faith and be folded with the rest of the flock
of Christ. We are not among those who are suspicions of youthful
piety–we could never see more reason for such suspicions in the case
of the young than in the cases of those who repent late in life. Of the
two, we think the latter are more to be questioned than the former, for
a selfish fear of punishment and dread of death are more likely to
produce a counterfeit faith than mere childishness would. How much has
the child missed which might have spoiled it! How much it does not know
which, please God, we hope it never may know! Oh, how much there is of
brightness and trustfulness about children, when converted to God,
which is not seen in elder converts!

Our Lord Jesus evidently felt deep sympathy with children and he is but
little like Christ who looks upon them as a trouble in the world and
treats them as if they must necessarily be either little deceivers or
foolish simpletons! To you who teach in our schools is given this
joyous privilege of finding out where these young disciples are who are
truly the lambs of Christ's flock! And to you, He says, "Feed My
lambs." That is, instruct such as are truly gracious but young in
years. It is very remarkable that the word used here for, "feed My
lambs," is very different from the word employed in the precept, "feed
My sheep." I will not trouble you with Greek words, but the second,
"feed," means exercise the office of a shepherd, rule, regulate, lead,
manage them, do all that a shepherd has to do towards a flock. But this
first, "feed," does not include all that–it means distinctly feed–and
it directs teachers to a duty which they may, perhaps, neglect, namely,
that of instructing children in the faith.

The lambs do not so much need keeping in order as we do who know so
much and yet know so little–who think we are so far advanced that we
judge one another and contend and emulate. Christian children mainly
need to be taught the doctrine, precept and life of the Gospel–they
require to have Divine Truth put before them clearly and forcibly. Why
should the higher doctrines, the doctrines of Grace, be kept back from
them? They are not, as some say, bones–or if they are bones, they are
full of marrow and covered with fatness! If there is any doctrine too
difficult for a child, it is rather the fault of the teacher's
conception of it than of the child's power to receive it, provided that
child is really converted to God.

It is ours to make doctrine simple–this is to be a main part of our
work. Teach the little ones the whole Truth of God and nothing but the
Truth, for instruction is the great need of the child's nature. A child
has not only to live as you and I have, but also to grow, therefore he
has double need of food, When fathers say of their boys, "What
appetites they have!" they should remember that we, also, should have
great appetites if we have not only to keep the machinery going, but to
enlarge it at the same time. Children in Grace have to grow, rising to
greater capacity in knowing, being, doing and feeling, and to greater
power from God. Therefore, above all things, they must be fed. They
must be well fed or instructed, because they are in danger of having
their cravings perversely satisfied with error.

Youth are susceptible to evil doctrine. Whether we teach young
Christians the Truth of God or not, the devil will be sure to teach
them error. They will hear of it, somehow, even if they are watched by
the most careful guardians. The only

way to keep chaff out of the child's little measure is to fill it to
the brim with good wheat. Oh that the Spirit of God may help us to do
this! The more the young are taught, the better–it will keep them from
being misled. We are specially exhorted to feed them because they are
so likely to be overlooked. I am afraid our sermons often go over the
heads of the younger folk, who, nevertheless, may be as true Christians
as the older ones. Blessed is he that can so speak as to be understood
by a child! Blessed is that godly woman who, in her class, so adapts
herself to girlish modes of thought that the Truth of God from her
heart streams into the children's hearts without let or hindrance!

We ought, especially, to feed the young because this work is so
profitable. Do what we may with persons converted late in life, we can
never make much of them. We are very glad of them for their own sakes,
but at 70, what remains, even, if they live another 10 years? Train up
a child and he may have 50 years of holy service before him! We are
glad to welcome those who come into the vineyard at the 11th hour, but
they have hardly taken their pruning-hook and their spade before the
sun goes down–and their short day's work is ended. The time spent in
training the late convert is greater than the space reserved for his
actual service. But you take a child-convert and teach him well and, as
early piety often becomes eminent piety, and that eminent piety may
have a stretch of years before it in which God may be glorified and
others may be blessed, such work is profitable in a high degree!

It is also most beneficial work for ourselves. It exercises our
humility and helps to keep us lowly and meek. It also trains our
patience. Let those who doubt this, try it, for even young Christians
exercise the patience of those who believe in them and are therefore
anxious that they should justify their confidence! If you want
big-souled, large-hearted men or women, look for them among those who
are much engaged among the young, bearing with their follies and
sympathizing with their weaknesses for Jesus' sake!

You see the sphere which is presented to your zealous activity. Will
you not occupy it? Many of you are already engaged in it–see to it
that you fulfill your high calling–and to the utmost, feed the lambs!

II. Secondly, let us speak of THE MAN who is to do this. I look upon my
text as addressed, not to Peter, only, but to those who are like Peter.
What if I say it is addressed to us all? As servants and lovers of
Jesus, He says to us, "Feed My lambs." Who should do it? Christ
selected Simon Peter as a leading man. He was one of the chief of the
Apostles, if we may use such a word. He was one of the triumvirate that
led the van–Peter, James and John. But though a leading man, he was to
feed the lambs, for no man may think himself too great to care for the
young.

The best of the Church are none too good for this work. And, dear
Friends, do not think because you have other service to do, that,
therefore, you should take no interest in this form of holy work, but
kindly, according to your opportunities, stand ready to help the little
ones and to cheer those whose chief calling it is to attend to them. To
us all this message comes–"Feed My lambs." To the minister and to all
who have any knowledge of the things of God, the commission is given.
See to it that you look after the children that are in Christ Jesus.
Peter was a leader among Believers, yet he must feed the lambs.

But he was especially a warm-hearted man. Simon Peter was not a
Welshman, but he had a great deal of what we know as Welsh fire in him.
He was just the sort of man to interest the young. Children delight to
gather round a fire, whether it is on the hearth or in the heart.
Certain persons appear to be made of ice and, from these, children
speedily shrink away–congregations or classes grow smaller every
Sunday when cold-blooded creatures preside over them! But when a man or
a woman has a kindly heart, the children seem to gather readily, just
as flies in these autumn days swarm on a warm sunny wall. Therefore
Jesus says to warm-hearted Simon, "Feed My lambs." He is the man for
the office!

Simon Peter was, moreover, an experienced man. He had known his own
weaknesses. He had felt the pangs of conscience. He had sinned much and
had been much forgiven and now he was brought, in tender humility, to
confess the love and loveliness of Jesus. We need experienced men and
women to talk to converted children and to tell them what the Lord has
done for them, and what have been their dangers, their sins, their
sorrows and their comforts. The young are glad to hear the story of
those who have been further on the road than they have. I may say of
experienced saints–their lips keep knowledge. Experience lovingly
narrated is suitable food for young Believers, instruction such as the
Lord is likely to bless to their nourishing in Grace.

Simon Peter was now a greatly indebted man. He owed much to Jesus
Christ, according to that rule of the Kingdom–he loves much to whom
much has been forgiven! Oh, you that have never entered upon this
service for Christ and yet might do it well, I beseech you, consider
your obligation to Jesus! The state of our schools at the present
moment is a

strong argument for your aid! We have plenty of children and few
teachers–around this place of worship many schools are doing their
work in a lame and halting manner for lack of teachers. O you who owe
so much to Christ, will you not feed His lambs? Ought you not to be
forward to offer yourselves? Will you refuse Him? Come forward at once
and say, "I have left this work to younger hands, but I will do so no
longer. I have experience and I trust I yet retain a warm heart within
my bosom. I will go and join these workers who are steadily feeding the
lambs in the name of the Lord!" So far as to the man who is called to
feed the lambs.

III. Thirdly, when the Lord calls a man to a work, He gives him THE
PREPARATION necessary for it. How was Peter prepared for feeding
Christ's lambs? First, by being fed, himself. The Lord gave him a
breakfast before giving him a commission. You cannot feed lambs or
sheep, either, unless you are fed yourself. It is quite right for you
to be teaching a great part of the Lord's-Day, but I think a teacher is
very unwise who does not come to hear the Gospel preached and get a
meal for his own soul. First be fed, and then feed!

But especially Peter was prepared for feeding the lambs by being with
his Master. He would never forget that morning and all the incidents of
it. It was Christ's voice that he heard–it was Christ's look that
pierced him to the heart! He breathed the air which surrounded the
risen Lord and this fellowship with Jesus perfumed Peter's heart and
tuned Peter's speech, that he might afterwards go forth and feed the
lambs. I commend to you the study of instructive books, but above all I
commend the study of Christ! Let Him be your library! Get near to
Jesus. An hour's communion with Jesus is the best preparation for
teaching either the young or the old.

Peter was also prepared in a more painful way than that, namely, by
self-examination. The question came to him thrice over, "Simon, son of
Jonas, do you love Me? Do you love Me? Do you love Me?" Often the
vessel needs scouring with self-examination before the Lord can fitly
use it to convey the Living Water to thirsting ones. It never hurts a
true-hearted man to search his own spirit and to be searched and tried
by his Lord. It is the hypocrite who is afraid of the truth which tests
his profession–he dreads trying discourses and trying meditations–but
the genuine man wants to know for certain that he really does love
Christ and, therefore, he looks within him and questions and
cross-questions himself.

Mainly, dear Friends, that examination should be exercised concerning
our love, for the best preparation for teaching Christ's lambs is
love–love to Jesus and to them. We cannot be priests on their behalf
unless, like Aaron, we wear their names upon our breasts. We must love
or we cannot bless! Teaching is poor work when love is gone–it is like
a blacksmith working without fire, or a builder without mortar. A
shepherd that does not love his sheep is a hireling and not a shepherd!
He will flee in the time of danger and leave his flock to the wolf.
Where there is no love, there will be no life–living lambs are not to
be fed by dead men!

See, Brothers and Sisters, we preach and teach love–our subject is the
love of God in Christ Jesus! How can we teach this if we have no love,
ourselves? Our objective is to create love in the hearts of those we
teach and to foster it where it already exists. But how can we convey
the fire, if it is not kindled in our own hearts? How can we promote
the flame whose hands are damp and dripping with worldliness and
indifference, so that he acts on the child's heart rather as a bucket
of water than as a flame of fire? These lambs of the flock live in the
love of Christ–shall they not live in ours? He calls them His lambs
and so they are–shall we not love them for His sake?

They were chosen in love; they were redeemed in love; they have been
called in love; they have been washed in love; they have been fed by
love and they will be kept by love till they come to the green pastures
on the hilltops of Heaven! You and I will be out of gear with the vast
machinery of Divine Love unless our souls are full of affectionate zeal
for the good of the beloved ones! Love is the grandest preparation for
the ministry, whether exercised in the congregation or in the class.
Love and then feed! If you love, feed! If you do not love, then wait
till the Lord has quickened you and lay not your unhallowed hand to
this sacred service!

Thus I have described the sphere, the man, and his preparation.

IV. Let us now consider THE WORK, "Feed My lambs." I have already given
you the gist of this subject. With the weak of the flock, with the new
converts in the flock, with the young children in the flock, our
principal business is to feed. Every sermon, every lesson should be a
feeding sermon and a feeding lesson. It is of little use to stand and
thump the Bible and call out, "Believe, believe, believe!" when nobody
knows what is to believe! I see no use in fiddles and
tambou-rines–neither lambs nor sheep can be fed upon brass bands!
There must be doctrine–solid, sound, Gospel doctrine to

constitute real feeding. When you have meat on the table, then ring the
dinner bell–but the bell feeds nobody if no food is served up.

Getting children to meet in the morning and the afternoon is a waste of
their steps and yours if you do not set before them soul-saving,
soul-sustaining Truth of God. Feed the lambs–you need not pipe to
them, nor put garlands round their necks–but feed them. This feeding
is humble, lowly, unostentatious work. Do you know the name of a
shepherd? I have known the names of one or two who follow that calling,
but I never heard anybody speak of them as great men. Their names are
not in the papers, nor do we hear of them as a trade with a grievance,
claiming to be noticed by the legislature. Shepherds are generally
quiet, unobtrusive people. When you look at the shepherd, you would not
see any difference between him and the plowman, or the coal miner. He
plods on uncomplainingly through the winter and in the early spring he
has no rest, night or day, because the lambs are needing him–this he
does year after year–and yet he will never be made a Knight of the
Garter, nor even be exalted to the peerage, albeit he may have done far
more useful work than those who are floated into rank upon their own
beer barrels.

So in the case of many a faithful teacher of young children! You hear
but little about him, yet he is doing grand work for which future ages
will call him blessed. His Master knows all about him and we shall hear
of him in that Day– perhaps not till then. Feeding the lambs is
careful work, too, for lambs cannot be fed on anything you please,
especially Christ's lambs. You can soon poison young Believers with bad
teaching. Christ's lambs are all too apt to eat herbs which are
deleterious–it is necessary that we are cautious where we lead them.
If men are to take heed what they hear, how much more should we take
heed what we teach? It is careful work, the feeding of each lamb,
separately, and the teaching of each child, by itself, the Truth of God
which it is best able to receive.

Moreover, this is continuous work. "Feed My lambs," is not for a
season, but for all time. Lambs could not live if the shepherd only fed
them once a week. I reckon they would die between Sunday and
Sunday–therefore, good teachers of the young look after them all the
days of the week as they have opportunity–and they are careful about
their souls with prayer and holy example when they are not teaching
them by word of mouth. The shepherding of lambs is daily, hourly work.
When is a shepherd's work over? How many hours a day does he labor? He
will tell you that in lambing-time he is never done. He sleeps when he
can, taking much less than forty winks, and then rousing himself for
action. It is so with those who feed Christ's lambs–they rest not till
God saves and sanctifies their dear ones.

It is laborious work, too. At least he who does not labor at it will
have a terrible account to render. Do you think a minister's life is an
easy one? I tell you that he who makes it so will find it hard enough
when he comes to die. Nothing so exhausts a man who is called to it, as
the care of souls, and so it is, in measure, with all who teach–they
cannot do good without spending themselves. You must study the lessons.
You must bring forth something fresh to your class. You must instruct
and impress. I have no doubt you are often driven very hard for
material and wonder how you will get through the next Lord's-Day.

I know you are sorely pressed, at times, if you are worth your salt.
You dare not rush to your class unprepared, to offer to the Lord that
which costs you nothing. There must be labor if the food is to be
wisely placed before the lambs, so that they can receive it. And all
this has to be done in a singularly choice spirit–the true shepherd
spirit is an amalgam of many precious Graces! He is hot with zeal, but
he is not fiery with passion. He is gentle and yet he rules his class.
He is loving, but he does not wink at sin. He has power over the lambs,
but he is not domineering or sharp. He has cheerfulness, but not
levity; freedom, but not license; solemnity, but not gloom. He who
cares for lambs should be a lamb, himself, and, blessed be God, there
is a Lamb before the Throne of God who cares for all of us and does so
the more effectually because He is in all things made like unto us!

The Shepherd spirit is a rare and priceless gift. A successful pastor
or a successful teacher in a school will be found to have special
characteristics which distinguish him from his fellows. A bird, when it
is sitting on its eggs, or when the little ones are newly-hatched, has
about it a mother-spirit, so that it devotes all its life to the
feeding of its little ones. Other birds may be taking their pleasure on
the wing, but this bird sits still the whole day and night, or else its
only flights are to provide for gaping mouths which seem to be never
filled!

A passion has taken possession of the bird and something like it comes
over the true soul-winner! He would gladly die to win souls! He pines,
he pleads, he plods to bless those on whom his heart is set. If these
could but be saved, he would pawn half his Heaven for it! Yes, and
sometimes, in moments of enthusiasm, he is ready to barter Heaven alto-

gether to win souls and, like Paul, he could wish himself accursed, so
that they were but saved! This blessed extravagance many cannot
understand because they never felt it–may the Holy Spirit work it in
us, so we shall act as true shepherds towards the lambs. This, then, is
the work, "Feed My lambs."

V. Lastly, let us consider THE MOTIVE. Our Lord Jesus heard Peter's
assurance of love and then He said, "Feed My lambs." The motive for
feeding the lambs was to be his Master's and not his own. Had Peter
been the first Pope of Rome and had he been like his successors, which,
indeed, he never was, surely it would have been fitting for the Lord to
have said to Him, "Feed your sheep. I commit them to you, O Peter,
Vicar of Christ on earth." No, no, no! Peter is to feed them, but they
are not his, they are still Christ's. The work that you have to do for
Jesus, Brothers and Sisters, is in no sense for yourselves. Your
classes are not your children, but Christ's. This is not my Church, but
Christ's.

The exhortation which Paul gave was, "Feed the Church of God," and
Peter, himself, wrote in his Epistle, "Feed the flock of God which is
among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but
willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind." Let these lambs
turn out what they may, the Glory is to be to the Master and not to the
servant! And the whole time spent, labor given and energy put forth is,
every particle of it, to redound to His praise whose these lambs are.
Yet while this is a self-denying occupation, it is sweetly honorable,
too, and we may attend to it feeling that it is one of the noblest
forms of service!

Jesus says, "My lambs: My sheep." Think of them and wonder that Jesus
should commit them to us! Poor Peter! Surely when that breakfast began,
he felt awkward. I put myself into his place and I know I should hardly
have liked to look across the table at Jesus, as I remembered that I
denied Him with oaths and curses. Our Lord desired to set Peter quite
at his ease by leading him to speak upon his love which had been so
seriously placed in question. Like a good doctor, He puts in the knife
where the anxiety was festering–He enquires, "Do you love Me?" It was
not because Jesus did not know Peter's love, but in order that Peter
might know for sure and make a new confession, saying, "Yes, Lord; You
know that I love You."

The Lord is about to hold a tender controversy with the erring one for
a few minutes that there might never be a controversy between Him and
Peter again. When Peter said, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You,"
you half thought that the Lord would answer, "Ah, Peter, and I love
you." But He did not and yet, He did. Perhaps Peter did not see His
meaning, but we can see it, for our minds are not confused as Peter's
was on that memorable morning. Jesus did, in effect, say, "I love you
so that I trust you with that which I purchased with My heart's blood.
The dearest thing I have in all the world is My flock. Look, Simon, I
have such confidence in you; I so wholly rely on your integrity as
being a sincere lover of Me, that I make you a shepherd to My sheep.
These are all I have on earth, I gave everything for them, even My
life, and now, Simon, son of Jonas, take care of them for Me."

Oh, it was "kindly spoken." It was the great heart of Christ saying,
"Poor Peter, come right in and share My dearest cares." Jesus so
believed Peter's declaration that He did not tell him so in words, but
in deeds! Three times He said it, "Feed My lambs; feed My sheep; feed
My sheep," to show how much He loved him. When the Lord Jesus loves a
man very much, He gives him much to do or much to suffer. Many of us
have been plucked, like brands, from the burning, for we were "enemies
to God by wicked works." And now we are in the Church among His friends
and our Savior trusts us with His dearest ones! I wonder, when the
prodigal son came back and the father received him, whether when
market-day came, he sent his younger son to market to sell the wheat
and bring home the money. Most of you would have said, "I am glad the
boy is back, but at the same time, I shall send his elder brother to do
the business, for he has always stuck by

me."

As for myself, the Lord Jesus took me in as a poor prodigal son and it
was not many weeks before He put me in trust with the Gospel, that
greatest of all treasures–this was a grand token of love! I know of
none to excel it. The commission given to Peter proved how thoroughly
the breach was healed–how fully the sin was forgiven–for Jesus took
the man who had cursed and sworn in denial of Him and bade him feed His
lambs and sheep! Oh, blessed work, not for yourselves, and yet for
yourselves! He that serves himself shall lose himself, but he that
loses himself does really serve himself after the best possible
fashion! The master motive of a good shepherd is love. We are to feed
Christ's lambs out of love. First, as a proof of love. "If you love Me,
keep My Commandments." If you love Me, feed My lambs. If you love
Christ, show it and show it by doing good to others, by laying yourself
out to help others that Jesus may have joy of them.

Next, as an inflowing of love. "Feed My lambs," for if you love Christ
a little, when you begin to do good, you will soon love Him more! Love
grows by active exercise. It is like the blacksmith's arm which
increases in strength by wielding the hammer. Love loves till it loves
more and it loves more till it loves more–and it still loves more till
it loves most of all–and then it is not satisfied, but aspires after
enlargement of heart that it may copy yet more fully the perfect model
of love in Christ Jesus, the Savior! Besides being an inflowing of
love, the feeding of lambs is an outflow of love. How often have we
told our Lord that we loved Him when we were preaching? And I do not
doubt you teachers feel more of the pleasure of love to Jesus when you
are busy with your classes than when you are by yourselves at home.

A person may go home and sit down and groan out–

"'Tis a point I long to know Oft it causes anxious thought,"

and wipe his forehead and rub his eyes, and get into the dumps without
end. But if he will rise up and work for Jesus, the point he longs to
know will soon be settled, for love will come pouring out of his heart
till he can no longer question whether it is there! So let us abide in
this blessed service for Christ that it may be the delight of love, the
very ocean in which love shall swim, the sunlight in which it shall
bask! The recreation of a loving soul is work for Jesus Christ! And
among the highest and most delicious forms of this heavenly recreation
is the feeding of young Christians–endeavoring to build them up in
knowledge and understanding–that they may become strong in the Lord.
The Lord bless you, dear fellow-laborers in the Sunday school, from
this time forth and for evermore! Amen.
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God's Non-Remembrance of Sin