Forgiveness from God's Point of View

Matthew 18:23–27 (ESV) “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

Jesus was a master story teller.  Here He famously employs humor to teach a valuable lesson on forgiveness.  

10,000 talents was more money than the Roman government had at the time.  

The man asks for more time to pay everything back!

Matthew, the tax collector would of course remembered this particular story above all.

The humor is in thinking you could pay God back for what you owe.  There is no other way to God but through forgiveness because of the mercy and compassion of God.

Our first response to God is always based on what we do. "I will pay..."  Works-righteousness is as old as Adam and Eve's home-made fig leave bathing suits.  We cannot undo what we've done.

And perhaps it is works-righteousness we put on others even after we've been forgiven. For the forgiven servant forces his compatriot to pay back all he owes.  

Matthew 18:28–30 (ESV) But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.

What made him do this?  Evidently, he considered this man's debt worse than his own.  A common trait among us all.  

N.T. Wright puts it this way:  "From God’s point of view, the distance between being ordinarily sinful (what we all are) and extremely sinful (what the people we don’t like seem to be) is like the distance between London and Paris seen from the point of view of the sun."

This week I was told someone did the same thing to me again that was done just 8 months ago.  A trust was betrayed.  I considered ending the relationship.  And today, I'm convicted.  However, telling them their wrong is Biblical.  I think that some of us fail to forgive because we think we just need to grin and bear it.  Perhaps we need to swallow our pride and let them hear how we were hurt.

I'm no different than you.  I'm no better.  My forgiveness was just as costly as yours - from God's point of view. The hard part is seeing it that way continually.

PRAYER:

Father of compassion, I want to see people with your eyes.  I need to forgive.  I need to be merciful.  Help me know the greatness of your mercy.  The nature of what my sin cost you.  Help me Lord.