Forgiving Others

Many Christians find it hard to forgive others, because they seem to do the same things over and over.  Peter was struggling with the same things, in Matthew 18:21.  “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”   Surely, to repeat the action seven times indicates he really doesn’t intend to change.   Unfortunately, we often forget how hard it is for people to break bad habits.  It may take them far longer than that to break the habit, as Jesus pointed out in Matthew 18:22.  “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”  Essentially, Jesus is saying we should not be trying to keep track.  Jesus then used a parable to demonstrate the reasons behind such forgiveness, In Matthew 18:23-32. 

 “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.”

The first employee owed ten thousand talents.  A talent is about seventy pounds, so he owed seven hundred thousand pounds, probably of silver to his master.  It would amount to more than a hundred sixty million dollars at today’s prices for silver.  Though his boss had the right to take everything he owned and garnish his wages until the debt was paid, he agreed to drop his claim because the servant asked for mercy.   

The employee then filed a suit against a man who owed him about two hundred dollars, insisting that his property be seized and his wages garnished until he was paid off.   The other employees complained that the first one could get by with not repaying a hundred sixty million dollars yet would file criminal charges over a measly two hundred dollars that was owed to him.  His boss agreed and reinstated his claim against the employee, taking his belongings and garnishing his wages until the debt was paid.  Obviously, he wasn’t willing to extend the same courtesy to others that he had been given.  Matthew 18:35 warns, “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”  Jesus is simply saying we should not expect God to treat us better than we treat others. 

He has forgiven us for every sin we committed, and we ought to forgive others just as completely as he has forgiven us.  If we refuse, it because we are not willing to admit how much sin he had to forgive.  Like the servant, all we cared about was getting out of trouble, not about doing what was right.  Salvation is the result of a changed heart attitude, not just saying you’re sorry.