The Unmerciful Servant

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/29hmoo

Forgiveness doesn’t come naturally for some people. In fact, for some people it just doesn’t come at all.

When we are wronged it is very difficult for us to say “I forgive you” to the one who harmed us. Yet we will instantly request, or even beg, for such forgiveness when we ourselves are the transgressor.

Everyone makes mistakes and most everyone lives to regret a poor decision. We want things to be right and we also desire to be free from the consequences of our mistakes.

The errors we make may have consequences that last a lifetime, but the mistakes themselves need not be permanent. The key is to remember the process that God has taught us concerning the forgiveness of those sins.

Jesus had just given a lesson on reconciling with a sinning brother when Peter decided to ask a follow up question. We find this account in Matthew 18:21-35.

Then Peter came to Him and said, “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. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

This first servant received mercy and forgiveness for a debt that would be too large for him to pay in his lifetime. He should have shown mercy then on his fellow servant who owed him just a few dollars. Instead he refused to offer the same forgiveness that he had received.

The result was that his actions were discovered by the king and the man’s original debt was placed back on him. Jesus warns us in Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

As hard as it may seem, sometimes those who have already experienced the forgiveness of God are the very ones who find it difficult to extend forgiveness to others. Remembering the grace, mercy and forgiveness they received from God should be motivation enough for them to willingly offer the same towards others.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:32, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Peter was asking Jesus about the limits of forgiveness. How often should we forgive one who sins against us? In His reply, Jesus gives us a glimpse in to the divine forgiveness from above—there is no limit.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we thank God right now for the great gift of forgiveness. And may we remember that gift often as we have opportunity to forgive others of their wrongs against us.

Our thought for the day: “Never does the human soul become so strong as when it dares to forgive an injury.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.