The Bankruptcy of a Slave
These days people can win millions of dollars in a lottery. This substantial amount of money is practically unthinkable; the worth of a 10-dollar bill is easier to understand. In Matthew, we read about someone who did not understand the difference very well, and paid a high price for that.
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 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.
26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Matthew 18:21-35 (NIV)
Unlikely forgiveness
In this story, Jesus compares forgiveness to canceling a debt, someone who owed ten thousand bags of gold was let go. Then, the story goes on to show that this same person is not willing to cancel a debt of 100 silver coins owed to him.
Ten thousand bags of gold is the equivalent of about seven million dollars. The 100 silver coins are worth about 12 dollars. How is it possible that this servant (a different translation would say ‘slave’) had seen the mercy of his master, but could not show that same compassion to a fellow servant? The consequences are disastrous. The canceled debt is reversed, and the bankrupt servant still had to pay back everything he owed his master.
Asking for forgiveness, or granting forgiveness
The New Testament speaks very little about asking for forgiveness. Forgiveness is necessary, which is indicated in passages like “be at peace with each other”, “confess to each other”, “walk in the light”, and “be kind hearted and humble”. Every earnest Christian should learn to ask for forgiveness.
Granting forgiveness is much harder. There are stumbling blocks, like pride, offence, resentment or anger, which can stand in the way. Sometimes, one just needs time, and those stumbling blocks will go away. At other times, one needs to consider if there is sin, causing these stumbling blocks.
Asking for forgiveness, but not granting it cannot restore relationships. Granting forgiveness, but not asking for it, starts the healing process.
Since granting forgiveness is so difficult, Jesus uses this story to tell us why it is so important.
God’s forgiveness is unlikely too
It is important for us to realize that God’s forgiveness, that we have received, can be compared to the unlikely forgiveness that Jesus talks about in this passage. The servant did not understand. He thought he could pay back that enormous amount of money (verse 26). We should realize that our sins are a debt towards God that we can, in no way, pay back. Our good works or a life of abstinence will never be enough because there is nothing we can do to make the debt go away.
The fact that the debt does go away is all because of God, it cost God everything, it cost Him His only Son. So, the forgiveness of our sins has nothing to do with our deeds, it is for free, and yet, it was not cheap! Let us not handle God’s forgiveness as though it is cheap.
God has a special way of forgiving, He did not only forgive us, He set us free (like the servant). We are no longer bound by sin. We are even allowed to live with Him, forever! Furthermore, we are also justified, we are not unjustified people who don’t have a debt, but we are justified, forgiven, freed people!
Forgiving others is required
If we want God’s forgiveness for our lives forgiving others is a requirement. In the passage, the forgiveness of the servant is immediately retracted, once his master finds out that he did not forgive his fellow servant. Read Matthew 6:14-15, also.
We can learn to do this, by looking to God, He is our example. Let us have compassion and mercy, like our King (verse 33). When we come to understand how much debt has been canceled (verse 32), it is easier to forgive others. Compare the 7 million dollars to the 12 dollars.
We have been forgiven, before we even asked for it (Romans 5:8). Similarly, we should forgive others, before (or without) them asking for forgiveness; God requires this from us, again and again. Or like Jesus said to Peter: seventy times seven times (verse 22).
Tear up the “I.O.U’s”! Set him or her free, like you have been set free! And do so willingly, just as you have been willingly forgiven. Then, we can walk in the light and our lives can bring honor to His name!
