Servanthood – The Servant As A Forgiver Part Two – Lesson Seven

 

Matthew 18:21-35

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25 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.

26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

28 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.

29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

32 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:

33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

According to the Rabbi’s of Jesus’ day, the limit was three times. After the third time, they were to forget about forgiving them. Peter suggested doubling the limit.

Jesus’s response was “Seventy times seven!” Jesus didn’t literally mean we were to forgive 490 times.

The following parable illustrates both aspects of forgiveness – vertical and horizontal

Verses 23–27 – Here we find illustrated God’s infinite forgiveness of us.

The debt that the servant owed the King, approximately 10 million dollars, was more than was at all possible to repay! Yet the King, God, was compassionate, and provided and forgave the entire debt.

Verses 28 – 34 – That same servant, having just been forgiven an incredible debt, turned to his fellow servant who owed him about $17 and refused in turn to forgive him. Several things emerge from this story that provide us with reasons to forgive.

To refuse to forgive is hypocritical.

Verses 32-33 – Since we have received maximum mercy, who are we to demand justice from others. The compassion God demonstrates on our behalf calls for us to do the same to others. Anything else is hypocritical; and God hates hypocrisy.

To refuse to forgive places us in the position of a judge and activates the law of “sowing and reaping”. Our refusal to forgive places the one who has offended us into a prison of condemnation.

Luke 6:36-38

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Matthew 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

The word “tormentors” is the same Greek root word found in Matthew 8:6, Luke 16:23 and 2 Peter 2:8 (vexed).

Matthew 8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

2 Peter 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

Jesus was saying that those who refuse to forgive will be turned over to torturous thoughts, feelings of misery, and agonizing unrest from within. Also take note of who it is that turns us over to the tormentors; the King. Only the King can release us from the tormentors and only by the way of forgiveness.

Forgiving releases the acid poison of bitterness, resentment, and hatred that eats away at our peace and calm. Forgiveness restores our soul.

How Do You Make It Happen?

First, focus fully on God’s forgiveness of you.

Psalm 103

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.

Don’t hurry through it, but think of how vast and extensive His forgiveness of us truly is. To the extent you can see and accept God’s forgiveness of you, to the same measure you will be given the capacity to forgive others.

Four Steps to Total Forgiveness:

1. Lord, I forgive…

2. Lord, I release them

3. Lord, I want you to forgive & release them

3. Here’s my hurts…

Deal directly and honestly with any resentment you currently hold against anyone.

Is that a hard thing to do? Think of the alternative: Torturing, agonizing feelings or a wasted life in general.

Forgiveness is the process God takes us through to heal inner wounds.

You say, “I will forgive, but I cannot (will not) forget!”

Conditional forgiveness is like conditional love; it is not forgiveness at all! Through forgiving God heals the wounds; through forgetting God removes the scars.