How many times have we said that we are never going to forgive someone? They have done something to us that is just beyond our forgiveness, or perhaps they have repeatedly done something, and now we feel that they’ve used up any more forgiveness from us. In our Gospel reading from last Sunday’s Lectionary, Jesus addresses the issue of forgiveness, and how forgiving we need to be of others.
As our reading begins, Peter comes to Jesus asking how many times he has to forgive someone who has done something to him (vs. 21). In the Jewish culture of his day, it was required to forgive someone three times. That was all that was necessary. By saying seven times, Peter thinks he is doing really well, a spiritual athlete. Jesus, though, says that he needs to be forgiving seventy times seven (vs. 22). We should not be keeping track of how many times we forgive someone. Jesus wants His children to forgive all who are truly repentant, even when they continue to fall.
Jesus then proceeds to tell a parable, a story with an important lesson for His disciples to learn. A king comes to one of his servants who owed him money, and wants to be repaid. The amount that he owed the king, ten thousand talents, was an incomprehensible amount of money, many multiple millions of dollars in today’s money, much more than anyone could ever pay back (vs. 24). The king says that since the man could not pay, he and his family were to be sold until the amount is paid (vs 25). If someone couldn’t pay their debt, they and their family could be forced to work the debt off, be thrown in prison, or be sold as slaves. After begging mercy, the king forgives the man’s debt (vs. 26-27).
Then what does that servant do? He goes out and finds someone who owes him a few dollars, a small pittance, and demands payment. When the second man doesn’t have the money to pay, what does the first servant do? He has that other man thrown in prison until he can pay (vs. 28-30). No mercy, no compassion. When the king hears, he has the first servant sent to the torturers until he pays back his whole, huge debt.
After telling this parable, Jesus turns to the disciples and the crowds, and tells them that if we do not forgive others, God will give us a similar punishment (vs. 35). Any lack of forgiveness is offensive to God. He will chasten His unforgiving children.
So what is Jesus telling us with this parable? It is quite apparent that our forgiveness of others is very important to Him. Jesus forgave us all of our sins. He expects us to forgive others. We have received maximum mercy. Who are we to demand justice from others? We should not withhold forgiveness to anyone.
When Jesus said that the unforgiving servant was handed over to the “torturers”, and that this would happen to those who are similarly unforgiving, did He mean that we were in danger of losing our salvation if we don’t forgive? No, as our salvation is eternally secure once we accept Jesus as Savior (John 10:28-29). Jesus is referring to severe discipline, not final condemnation. What the unforgiving servant owed would be taken out by chastening, until he was willing to forgive, and Jesus says the same will happen to us. The “torturers” and “tormentors” for us can be suffering anguish, pain, and and agony that will come when we refuse to forgive and are holding on to grudges and bitterness. People like that often will suffer torturous thoughts, misery, and unrest. Unforgiveness and bitterness has many consequences. It can cause problems with other relationships. It can also cause physical problems and weaken one’s body. Finally, and most importantly, unforgiveness will put a barrier between us and God, stifling our prayers.
Obviously our having a forgiving heart is something very dear to the heart of God. It is not always easy, especially if the hurts have been cruel. But what we are asked to forgive is in comparison like just a few dollars compared to the huge debt God forgave us, which is like many multiple millions of dollars. I know that I do not want to suffer at the hands of the tormentors, and especially have my prayer-line to God blocked. Jesus can give us the desire and the strength to forgive all who have wronged us, just as He has forgiven us.
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