June 22, 2013

“Unmerciful Recipient of Forgiveness”

Blessings Folk!

Today’s reading:

Matthew 18:23-25

pastedGraphic
There are some amazing truths in this passage.

Do not lose site of the obvious.

Jesus begins with “for this reason”.
What does this mean?

It picks up what we examined yesterday.
We are to forgive 7x70 times.
Forgiveness is the context.

Jesus gives an example of forgiveness.
He states “for this reasons the kingdom of heaven may be compared…”

A slave...note that it is a slave...owes a King a large, large amount of money.
The King was about to sale the slave, the slave’s wife and family.
The slave fell to the ground and begged for patience.
He promised to repay everything.

The slave did not ask for the debt to be forgiven.
He asked for opportunity for repayment.

The King forgave the debt.
Of his own volition he forgave.

The slave, free from debt, then went to collect a debt owed him.
He refused to forgive, as he had been forgiven.
He seized the debtor.
He chocked the debtor.
He imprisoned the debtor.

The fellow slaves heard and reported back to the King.
The King declared the slave to be wicked.
The King declared that the slave should have showed mercy as he received mercy.
The King, moved with anger, handed the slaves over to torturers until the debt was repaid.

This is what Father will do to those who do not forgive his brother from their heart.

Forgiveness is serious.
We are called to forgive.
We are required to forgive.
If you refuse to forgive, you are not saved.
You will spend eternity in the lake of fire.