Please read the Bible verses for today:
Matthew 18:21-35
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." (Matthew 18:21-22)
I remember reading this for the first time back in 1990 and thinking, 'Wow Peter! seven times a day! That's too much!' Then I settled my mind with the thought that I should forgive my sister seven times a day. Next, I read Jesus' response. I was completely overwhelmed. How? Why? My sister didn't deserve forgiveness that many times. There had to be a limit- a punishment for her sin. Then I read verses 23- 35 and understood.
I remember reading this for the first time back in 1990 and thinking, 'Wow Peter! seven times a day! That's too much!' Then I settled my mind with the thought that I should forgive my sister seven times a day. Next, I read Jesus' response. I was completely overwhelmed. How? Why? My sister didn't deserve forgiveness that many times. There had to be a limit- a punishment for her sin. Then I read verses 23- 35 and understood.
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[i] 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 18:21-35)
Ten thousand talents was equivalent to several million dollars and a hundred silver coins was equivalent to a days wage. Here, Jesus is making the point of the grace He gives us for our sin is much greater compared to the grace we need to offer to our fellow man. There is no comparison. We need to forgive others, for He has forgiven us. We need to forgive 'seventy-seven times,' an unlimited number, each day for Christ has forgiven us. He has forgiven our past, present and our future.
Forgiveness isn't easy, but we are called to forgive everyone.
Pray with me:
Jesus, thank you for forgiving me of all my sin, past, present and even future. Thank you that there are new mercies waiting for me each new day. Jesus, I forgive all those who have hurt and offended me. Help me to move in forgiveness and love towards them. Help me to set them free and my heart free through the act of forgiveness. Heal my heart Jesus. Help me to trust you to protect my heart from them hurting me again. I love you, Jesus and want to live according to your plan. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Ten thousand talents was equivalent to several million dollars and a hundred silver coins was equivalent to a days wage. Here, Jesus is making the point of the grace He gives us for our sin is much greater compared to the grace we need to offer to our fellow man. There is no comparison. We need to forgive others, for He has forgiven us. We need to forgive 'seventy-seven times,' an unlimited number, each day for Christ has forgiven us. He has forgiven our past, present and our future.
Forgiveness isn't easy, but we are called to forgive everyone.
Pray with me:
Jesus, thank you for forgiving me of all my sin, past, present and even future. Thank you that there are new mercies waiting for me each new day. Jesus, I forgive all those who have hurt and offended me. Help me to move in forgiveness and love towards them. Help me to set them free and my heart free through the act of forgiveness. Heal my heart Jesus. Help me to trust you to protect my heart from them hurting me again. I love you, Jesus and want to live according to your plan. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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