It was taught by the Jews that before God's love is extended to the sinner, he must first repent. In their view, repentance is a work by which men earn the favor of Heaven. And it was this thought that led the Pharisees to exclaim in astonishment and anger. "This man receiveth sinners." According to their ideas He should permit none to approach Him but those who had repented. But in the parable of the lost sheep, Christ teaches that salvation does not come through our seeking after God but through God's seeking after us. "There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way." Rom. 3:11, 12. We do not repent in order that God may love us, but He reveals to us His love in order that we may repent.

Jøderne lærte, at synderen først måtte angre, før han kunne få del i Guds kærlighed. Efter deres mening var anger noget, der gjorde menneskene fortjent til Himmelens gunst, og det var denne tanke, der fik farisæerne til at udbryde i forbavselse og vrede: "Den mand tager imod syndere." Ifølge deres mening burde han ikke tillade andre at nærme sig ham end dem, der havde angret. Men i lignelsen om det mistede får lærer Kristus os, at frelsen ikke fås ved, at vi søger efter Gud, men ved, at Gud søger efter os. "Der er ingen forstandig, der er ingen, som søger Gud, afvegne er alle." Vi angrer ikke, for at Gud skal elske os, men han åbenbarer sin kærlighed for os, for at vi skal angre.