Debt Forgiveness

“Parable: Unforgiving Servant”

Matthew 18:21-35

How many times should one forgive? This is the question Peter asked Jesus. His response was not seven times, but seventy seven times and then told the parable of the unforgiving servant. A master wanted to settle accounts with his servants. One man owed the master 10000 talents. But he was not able to pay. The master ordered that he and his wife and children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. But the servant fell on his knees and begged. The master took pity on him and canceled the debt.

But when that servant went out he found another servant who owed him money. He grabbed him and demanded repayment. The other servant could not pay and he was thrown into debtor’s prison. The master became aware of this and called him in. He told him that he had canceled all the debt he had because he had begged for forgiveness of the debt.. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as he had? The servant was turned over to jail until he could pay back all he owed.  The point of Jesus’ story is what he states at the end. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.

What is forgiveness? G.K.Chesterton wrote, “Forgiveness means pardoning the unpardonable or it is not forgiveness at all.” It means erasing the act, letting go of the wrong. Forgiveness is the prerequisite for reconciliation as reconciliation is the rebuilding of a trusting relationship and takes time. And forgiveness is always within my power, through the enabling of the Spirit. Forgiveness is granted not earned.

In this parable the first servant was freed from all debt when he could have been sold along with his wife and possessions to another master. But the master had pity on him. However, when this same servant went and demanded payment for a debt from another servant  and he could not pay that the master became angry. And when the servant had the other servant put into jail the master could not let it go. He questioned the servant for his actions and then put him into jail as well. The act of forgiveness is such that one needs to carry it through to others. If you have been forgiven about something you have done wrong then you are not to demand forgiveness when someone else does this to you. You are to learn about your sinful act respond, seek forgiveness and then grow in a new way. The servant did not do this and this is why he was sent to jail.

Have you been forgiven by another person for something you did? What did you do to live out this forgiveness? Did you go and complain about something else? Did you talk about the difference being forgiven meant or did you do the same thing over again?

Jesus makes it clear for the need to forgive and to be forgiven. And when forgiven we are not to seek revenge on others. Jesus calls us to forgive again and again. As disciples of Jesus, we are to overflow with forgiveness. Do you forgive as you should?

PRAYER:

Wonderful God we praise you that we are forgiven of our sins through Jesus. Help us to forgive others as we seek to live in peace. Enable us to renew our faith, to love Jesus and to be forgiven. Hear our prayers we pray. Amen.

BLOG QUESTION

Forgiving others is one of the most difficult tasks we are called to do as Jesus’ disciples. Jesus said that we are to forgiven and never really stop. But sometimes it seems pointless to forgive another who will just hurt you again. The desire for revenge is there. Yet do you act on it this desire or not? This is the question. Have you ever really felt the need for revenge? Have you forgiven others and found peace within? Jesus says to keep forgiving but are we really willing to forgive all the time. What do you think/ feel?