Forgiveness: Christ is your Example

Our pastor preached on this passage about forgiveness yesterday, and I saw the story differently than I ever have before.

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.' And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.' So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.' But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:21-35

The slave owes his master 10,000 talents. In today’s money, that is more than 8 BILLION dollars. There is no chance that a person could ever repay a debt that huge. Thus, the gravity of this lesson. The master demands the slave and his family to be sold in order to pay what he owes, but the slave begs for an extension. And so the master has compassion and forgives the debt. Totally forgives it! Doesn’t require a payment plan, but totally forgives it!

Are you following the metaphor here? We were slaves to a master, sin, until Christ forgave our debt by taking our place on the cross. We could never hope to repay God for the debt of our sin – it’s much more than 10,000 talents, or 8 billion dollars’ worth. There is no possible way we could ever earn enough to repay him. But God has compassion on us, releases us from our sin, and forgives us.

So what is our response? Well, don’t use the slave in this story as your example! In our story here, the slave went to his fellow slave who owed him only 100 denarii, a small fraction of what he himself owed before he was forgiven. When the fellow slave couldn’t pay, even after asking for the same extension, the first slave refused, and threw him into prison!

And then note the master’s rebuke: Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you? Think about this in light of people in your life who need your mercy and forgiveness. Christ forgave us our debt, one which we could never, ever, in a million years repay ourselves. When others offend us, it is not even close to what we did to send Christ to the cross. It is the least we can do to offer forgiveness to others since we have been forgiven by God.

As I share these thoughts on the story in Matthew 18, I realize that sometimes, forgiveness is easier said than done. We like to hold on to past hurts, grievances and offenses. So pray. Ask God for the power to release your pain and hurt and allow you to grant forgiveness to those in your life who need it. From past experience, I can say that once you forgive, you will be free.

This hymn was just recently written (1990) and beautifully captures the spirit of this parable told by Jesus.

Remember Christ and be ready to forgive.


Remember Christ, Our Savior
Words by Robert E. Smith

Remember Christ, our Savior
Who paid the debts you owed
To God the Heavenly Father
And to you mercy showed.
When others sin against you
Be ready to forgive.
Since you have been forgiven
With them in peace now live.

Go first to find your brother,
Your sister or your friend.
Do not reveal to others
The hurt you need to mend.
Confront in humble spirit
The one whose sin caused pain
That he might seek forgiveness
And you a friend regain.

When bitter anger tempts you
To nurse your broken heart
With brooding thoughts of hatred
And vows of vengeance start.
Pray to the Lord of Pardon
For power to release
Each selfish act against you
That rage might in you cease.

O Father, Son, and Spirit,
O Patient Trinity,
Who lifts from us sin’s burden
And from its debt sets free.
Grant us the will to pardon
All those who us offend
That we might enter heaven
With them when ages end.