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If You Do Not Forgive - Matthew 18
If You Do Not Forgive - Matthew 18
Jesus told the parable of the unmerciful servant. He was apparently in a great position of trust and ended up owing his master 10,000 talents. The ESV footnotes: "A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years’ wages for a laborer”. Twenty times 10,000? 200,000 years of labor. Jesus apparently used such a number because it simply would be impossible to pay off. It was a debt that could not be paid. Instead of selling this servant, his wife, and all he had into slavery, the master forgave the debt. Such was an act of mercy and grace upon the part of the master. This lucky and fortunate servant then threw a fellow servant into prison because he owed him one days wage (a denarii).
Upon being informed of such harsh treatment by this servant upon his fellow servant, the master promptly delivered him to the jailor until he should pay ALL his debt.
As with most parables, this story really has one thrust and Jesus tells us what it is rather than leaving us to figure it out: So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matt. 18:35). We owe God the debt for our sins. Paul stated simply that the WAGES of sin is death. We deserve to be separated from God. We have no way of paying this that would allow us to continue in fellowship with God. God, like the master in the parable, has forgiven us. He has responded to our plight with mercy and kindness.
· We then are under obligation to forgive even as we have been forgiven. Those who sin against us
· We need an attitude of wanting to forgive.
· We need to display such so as to encourage those who have sinned against us to come and be reconciled. They need to have confidence that they will find mercy and kindness with us.
· We need to show GREAT compassion and forgive even unto 70 times 7.
· We need to follow the very example of God and make the first move. Yes, THEY have sinned against US, but WE are to make the first move. We do not wait for them but rather prepare and act in such a way to let them know we desire to forgive.
· THEN we need to forgive.
Jesus taught us to pray: "…forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt. 6:12). He followed that with the warning: "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6:14-15).
James reiterated this idea saying: "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).
God has been so gracious unto us, let us be like our Father and show mercy, kindness, and grace unto others.
Hugh DeLong
