Nov. 8, Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, Matthew 18:23-35
Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive a brother, “seven times?” Jesus replied, “Seventy times seven.” The exact number is not the issue, but the extreme number, 490 times, is a hyperbole, an exaggeration. Basically, Jesus is saying we must forgive our brother every time.
Peter may have thought he was really scoring big with Jesus. The current thought of the time was probably much lower. I thought that three times was all that was required, but don’t quote me for I cannot find the reference just now. Seven times would have been thoroughly righteous and pious. Jesus shocks us by saying this exaggerated amount. The parable teaches that, as people have been forgiven a huge debt by God, we must forgive the small debts between each other.
In David Seamands book, Healing for Damaged Emotions, he writes about this passage for those of us who would destroy our lives by carrying around unforgiveness toward others. He rewrites this parable in easy to understand everyday language. The king forgave one man the debt of a million dollars because he took pity on him. The man then goes and ruthlessly collects a $20 debt from another man.
Whom is God asking you to forgive? What unsettled account comes to mind when you are in your prayer times or in the middle of worship? Why not settle it now. Forgive as you have been forgiven.
23“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins, He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”—Matthew 18:23-35
Sometimes the forgiveness God is asking us to hand out is that of forgiving ourselves, as He has, even when those we love haven't forgiven us. This is hard - from my experience - harder than any other scenario of forgiveness I've encountered.
ReplyDeleteTo forgive isn't just for the other person. God knows if we don't forgive, it just eats at us and causes harm to our body and soul. Somtimes we suffer more than the other person because they don't even know the problem.
ReplyDeleteJust a little thought that I've had over the years... If we are able to forgive a person 490 times, even if it's for the very same thing each time, then what's one more time?
ReplyDeleteOur hearts will have become so in tune with the love of Jesus that it won't make any difference.
Hey, everyone, that's my brother Ray. Double my brother. In family blood and in the blood of Christ. Thanks for sharing. How true. Bless you, brother, Love you.
ReplyDelete