Matthew 18 - 11.24.25
Scripture
Matthew 18:32-33 NIV
““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?’”
Observation
In this passage, Peter asks Jesus how many times he must forgive someone who sins against him. Jesus responds to Peter with a parable. It was about a king who decided to bring in a man who had owed him millions of dollars. Unfortunately, the man couldn’t pay the debt he owed. So, the king ordered that this man’s family and all his possessions be sold to pay off the debt. The man pleaded to the king to be patient with him and to give him more time to pay off the debt. The king felt pity on the man, released him, and forgave the man of his debt. But, as soon as this man was released, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him money. Instead of showing his fellow servant the same mercy and forgiveness he was shown by the king, he decided to have his fellow servant arrested until he could pay off the debt. When word got out about this and the news spread to the king, THE KING WAS FURIOUS! He ordered the man to be captured, imprisoned, and tortured until he could finally pay off his debt.
Application
We must forgive the way Jesus has forgiven us.
I don’t know why, but whenever I sit in traffic and cars are struggling to merge onto the freeway, I think of this story. You see, I’m usually the car on the freeway that has a bit of compassion for those big rig trucks or cars trying to merge onto the freeway. I usually slow down and let them in. But then I see that the same car that I just let in, close the gap and ride the car’s bumper in front of him so that no one else can cut and merge in front of him. I get so angry and frustrated. I’m like, “C’mon my guy, show the same courtesy that I just showed you.”
This parable does have me think how we can be with God. How many times has God forgiven us? Multiple, if not thousands of times! But, how soon we forget. The moment someone wrongs us, we want to cut all ties and relationships with that person. Some of us even go the “Old Testament” way and seek revenge, (an eye for an eye). But God calls us to forgive. He calls us to forgive the same way Jesus forgives us. That is forgiving with no strings attached and unconditionally. It can be hard to do and easier said than done. It reminds of what C.S. Lewis wrote:
“Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive.”
How easily we expect and want God to forgive us, but when we have to forgive someone else for the same thing, our hearts are hardened to the idea. Let’s not be those kinds of people. Jesus calls us to be holy, (set apart). So, even if the world thinks one way when it comes to forgiveness, let’s look at forgiveness the way God calls us to. The way Jesus forgives.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” -Ephesians 4:32
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for your forgiveness. No matter how many times I mess up, which is plenty, You choose to forgive me. The way You choose to forgive is something I can never fathom, but it is something You call me to do towards others. Please give me your forgiving heart towards those who wrong me. May I always remember what Jesus did for me in order for me to be forgiven. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi