Many people have some particular person who they have a very hard time forgiving for some past offense that this person committed against them. It may be some big offense that was done, or perhaps only a smaller transgression, however they just can’t get over it, and forgiveness is very difficult. Quite often forgiveness is difficult to give. In our Scripture passage for today from the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us a parable to teach us about the necessity of forgiveness. That is a lesson we all need to learn. I know that I do!
Our passage opens with Peter asking Jesus a question. He knew that as a believer, one who tried to closely follow God each day, that forgiving someone who committed a fault against you was important. The Jews required one to forgive three times, and that was all. Peter asked Jesus that if he doubled that, and then even added an extra time for good measure, would that really please God? (vs. 21). Jesus responded with no, not just seven times. Instead, seventy times seven (vs. 22). Jesus wasn’t saying to forgive 490 times, but on the 491st time we can clobber them. He is saying that His followers are to forgive an infinite number of times. We shouldn’t even be keeping a count.
Jesus then proceeded to tell a parable about two servants who owed some money. The first servant owed the king a huge amount of money, the equivalent today of multiple millions of dollars. The king wanted the money paid back, and since the servant couldn’t pay, he ordered the servant and his family sold as slaves. The servant begged for time to pay his debt, and the king had compassion, and forgave the man all he owed (vs. 23-27).
So what does that servant go and do? Does he extend to others the mercy that he just received. Let’s read further. That servant goes out and finds a fellow servant who owed him a minuscule fraction of what he had owed. That man didn’t have the money right then, and begged his fellow servant to have patience, and he would pay his debt. Instead of showing mercy, he threw him into debtor's prison (vs. 28-30). Those who observed this knew that this behavior was not right, and went and told the king. When the king heard this, he called the unforgiving servant in and chastised him, saying that since he didn’t show mercy and forgiveness to others, he would be delivered to the tormentors until his debt was paid (vs. 31-34).
The king represents God, and the servants are us. We owe a sin debt to God that we cannot possibly pay, it is so great. However, God sent His Son to die for us, to pay that sin debt. He did that when we were still sinners, forgiving all who come to Him through Jesus (Romans 5:8). What the servant owed, an insurmountable amount, represents our debt of sin, which we cannot pay on our own. The king had compassion and mercy, and forgave the debt. Likewise, our sin debt has been paid by Christ, and we are set free.
If Jesus could forgive us while we were still a sinner, He expects us to be able to forgive just as fully and completely. We are to forgive as He forgave us. Believers don’t lose their salvation when they refuse to forgive. However, they break fellowship with God. He cannot ignore sin. Forgiveness is an act of will more than an act of the heart. The one who refuses to forgive, the Christian who harbors grudges and bitter feelings towards others, will be turned over to tortuous thoughts, feelings of misery, and agonizing unrest within. Unforgiveness causes spiritual turmoil that hinders a believer’s growth. Prayer is stifled because of harbored sin that should be confessed. Worship is dry and hypocritical. And our witness is damaged.
Some people have difficulty in forgiving, because they feel that if they do forgive, that implies that what the other one did was okay. Or they say they won’t forgive because the other person never apologized. Forgiveness does not mean finding reasons to justify or excuse someone’s behavior. It is not about forgetting what happened, or pretending it never occurred. By forgiving, we choose to release the offender from any obligation towards us, and surrender any perceived right to hurt them back. Forgiving someone means giving up resentment and the right to get even, even though we were wronged.
Because we have been the recipients of maximum mercy, who are we to suddenly demand justice from others? God has forgiven us our huge sin-debt that we could never have atoned for. Can we not forgive someone the tiny, in comparison, offenses they have done to us? Jesus teaches us to extend mercy, just as God has done towards us
No comments:
Post a Comment