Matthew 18:21-35

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’
27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’
29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’
30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.
31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.
32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.
33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’
34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.
35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

It’s all a matter of degree. How often do I have to forgive? Do I really need to do it again? I forgave him three times already and he isn’t learning his lesson. Why keep forgiving him?

Let me submit to my gentle reader that that is the wrong way to look at the Christian life. Or at least the wrong mental stance when it comes to hearing His word for us.

We are not to consider our Christian lives as a grudging obedience of a number of commands. A life of laws pushing us around. The principles God provides us sometimes feel risky in obeying them, can take us out of our comfort zone, can actually be unfair! But we need to realize that His ways are given to us for our own good.

Let’s take a look at this parable and consider it’s implications. I have looked at this parable in a previous post that may be of interest to my reader. Find it at Parable Surprises – Unmerciful Servant

We have three subjects in this parable, with the unmerciful servant being the man to watch. He has a freaking huge debt with the King, and the King, rightly so, requires payment. A payment he can’t provide. He begs for time to pay it all back – which sounds good, but this debt was beyond that cure! Time wasn’t going to solve this problem!

So the King had two options. Sell the servant, his wife, his children and all that he had!

Or forgive him of all debt. Release the servant, and his entire family, of his debt obligation. Free him of his responsibility to the King, and allow him to continue living with his family, and to continue with his possessions.

Grasp this action, this ridiculously gracious and undeserved action this servant received. This was not per the legal code of the day, for the servant was responsible by law for the repayment. This servant was granted his life back, and the lives of his family!

But this act of grace, of forgiveness, of unbounded mercy did not translate into this servants life. There was something wrong with this servant! Something terribly wrong! For as soon as he could, he started calling in debts from those who were his equal, his fellow servants. And for paltry amounts, the sort of amount that is petty in comparison.

The parable also implies the servant was quick to find this debtor, and when confronted him, actually began to choke him, demanding payment. Now of course, he had every right to demand payment by law, but give me a break – what is wrong with this fellow?

The surprise in all of this parable is the King’s reaction. Yes he had freely provided forgiveness to the servant, but upon hearing of the flagrant disregard to responding this this act of grace, called the servant back to his throne.

 ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’

Remember this is the king speaking. His grace, mercy and forgiveness is being rescinded based on the servants actions!

And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.

This passage shook my core when I first quit ignoring it’s principle message. We, as believers, who know of the unfathomable forgiveness granted to us in the cross of Christ, should want to forgive everyone, should have had a life experience that draws us to forgiving others.

For believers to hold resentment, refuse to forgive, to nurse a grudge or maintain hateful attitudes towards our own brothers and sisters should alarm our souls to the danger we are living in.

At the very least, holding back forgiveness may simply reveal a lack of understanding the grace provided us. An unforgiving heart and it’s resulting actions, based on this passage should warn us that our forgiveness may be rescinded some day.

For those who have never experienced the forgiveness of God, you may not think forgiveness is a blessing to the forgiver. Please understand to forgive another is a blessing that we enter into, finding freedom to live the life God intended for us.

God is good, and He rejoices to forgive.

Luke 15:7 … I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents ….

If we are believers, and have the life of God in our lives, we will experience the same joy.

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