Forgiveness and Mercy

Good Morning,

Matthew 18:21-35 (New International Version)
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 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.
"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

This section of Scripture is presented to us today in order that we might examine ourselves truthfully and in depth to see if we might be a bit like that first servant who begged forgiveness and mercy from his master, yet offered no forgiveness nor mercy on one who was indebted to him. So we will say, "Oh, no! God forbid that I might be anything like that ungrateful and wicked man! I would never be like him." Oh? Really? Think about it. Think for a while about it. Think about how you act in this world toward people.

Now, remember, we, every one of us, is exactly like the servant who owed the 10,000 talents. I say that because every one of us has sinned against God and is in huge debt to Him because HE HAS FORGIVEN THAT DEBT BY THE SUFFERING AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST! So, I would think we can agree that we, at least many or most of us, have a debt even larger than the 10,000 talents of that long ago servant. We've been forgiven much.

Now, think about those in debt to you. Those who have sinned against you. Those who have disappointed you in some way. Those who have caused you some suffering along this path of life. Is their sin, those who have sinned against YOU, as great or greater than that which you've been forgiven of? Or, again, are we like that servant who has no forgiveness or mercy in his heart toward one who has done something against us?

I don't offer answers to any of these questions for you today. It's difficult enough for me to face myself...and God...in that mirror to answer my own lack of forgiveness or mercy.

So, one might rightfully ask, what do we do about it? Why are you even bringing this up to us? I would answer that by simply saying I obey what God tells me to do. He has brought this before us so we can look hard at the actions we've done in this area of our lives. He says bring this up...I do it. Answers? No, I don't have them. I'm just like everyone else and have to seek my answers from the Lord and I'm sure they will be unpleasant answers for the sins in this area of my life. I'm also sure that the answers will take time and effort on my part...and probably forgiveness and mercy that I don't now have in my heart. I will need God's help, just like you.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David