Please
read Matthew 18:21-27
Responding
to Peter’s question on forgiveness, Jesus uses the parable of the unforgiving
servant to teach mercy to Peter (and us).
In the
parable, a servant owes his king a large sum of money, ten thousand talents*. He does not have the money to repay the debt
right away. So the king, who has the
power to do anything to his servant, orders to sell the man, his family, and all his possessions, to recoup the debt (Matthew 18:25). The man pleads for
time (Matthew 18:26) to repay the money. Clearly, the man, given time, has the
ability and wherewithal to repay the large sum. But the king does something
amazing. He shows forbearance, remarkably overruling his first decision, and
decides to not only, not sell
the man, his family, and his possessions, but also forgives the enormous debt.
So the merciful king, disregarding his own personal monetary loss, forgives the
debt and sets the man free displaying his mercy. The man should have suffered
for his callousness to repay the debt but does not get what he truly deserves
– the loss of his freedom, the loss of his family (they could be sold to
separate slave owners), and the loss of his possessions.
So in a word, the man receives mercy – he
does not get the loss and punishment he deserves.
Dear
brother and sister in Christ, because of Jesus, God shows us mercy and you and I do not get
the punishment – God’s judgment and wrath- we deserve. In addition, God loves
the unlovable- you and I, and forgives those who don’t deserve forgiveness-
again you and I. And of course, he does more for us!
Dear God, thank you for showering
mercy on me a rebellious and wanton sinner. Amen. 2x2
Here are
two videos – maybe this is corny – The
good God puts away the
bad in/for us and shows mercy to
the ugly in us. (From a
sermon I heard long ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6tR78d0cmA
(to save time watch from 4:30)
* The NIV footnote states - a talent was worth about 20 years of a day
laborer’s wages.
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