In our last reading, Jesus explained the steps to conflict resolution. So, Peter comes up and asks how many times he needs to forgive. In Judaism, three times was sufficent. Peter doubles that, plus one, asking Jesus if that is generous enough. I wonder if Jesus just shook His head for a minute. It's not about how many times you forgive, nor is the forgiveness about you. It's about others, putting them first, and working on relationships.
Jesus tells Peter to forgive seventy-seven times. Now, does this mean we are to keep a notebook and tally each time we forgive and when we it the magic number - now we get to be selfish unforgiving people? NO! It implies that we forgive without keeping count.
Jesus goes on to tell a story - THE PARABLE OF THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT
A servant owes his master a huge sum - a talent is equivalent to 20 years wages. This man owed ten thousand talents - an insurmountable amount. He cannot repay, so his master is going to sell him and his family to recoup some of the amount. Now, in those days, there were no banks. If you owed money, you were the collateral. The man begs for mercy, and promises to repay. The master takes pity on him - AND FORGIVES HIM THE DEBT. He no longer has to pay. Pretty sweet, huh? And yet, this man goes out, beats another man, and sends him to jail because this man cannot pay him? The jailed man in questions also owed a pretty sum - about 20 weeks of pay. The master finds out what out happened and calls the forgiven man in. "Why would you act this way when I showed you mercy? You will be treated in the same way in which you treated him."
OK - cool story. What does it mean? Well, you have been forgiven an insurmountable debt. God has forgiven you for all your sins. Your not only free from the debt of sin, you have been adopted into the family of God. THEREFORE - treat others the way you have been treated by God. He forgave you everything, so forgive others. OR God will treat you in the same way you treat others. It's that simple.
No comments:
Post a Comment