The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
Matthew 18:26-28
OBSERVATION
Here is a story of a servant who has been forgiven greatly, but when given the opportunity to forgive another, he withholds grace. Jesus tells this parable when asked by the disciples how many times we are to forgive someone. The disciples were looking for a specific answer, something like, "7 times, that ought to do." But Jesus responds by telling them they should forgive 70 times 7, 490 times. 490 times! Jesus seems to take away the rational of trying to count how many times we've forgiven someone. Who could remember that many instances? Who would keep a tally? And then, just after dropping the 490 bomb, he tells this parable. The point? It's not about numbers, it's about being a forgiving person. Forgiveness is not something a 'to do list,' but rather an inner attitude of the heart that stems from love.
OBSERVATION
Here is a story of a servant who has been forgiven greatly, but when given the opportunity to forgive another, he withholds grace. Jesus tells this parable when asked by the disciples how many times we are to forgive someone. The disciples were looking for a specific answer, something like, "7 times, that ought to do." But Jesus responds by telling them they should forgive 70 times 7, 490 times. 490 times! Jesus seems to take away the rational of trying to count how many times we've forgiven someone. Who could remember that many instances? Who would keep a tally? And then, just after dropping the 490 bomb, he tells this parable. The point? It's not about numbers, it's about being a forgiving person. Forgiveness is not something a 'to do list,' but rather an inner attitude of the heart that stems from love.
APPLICATION
I have to be careful not to look at forgiveness as something "to-do." Sometimes, I can think I need to forgive someone out of Christian duty or obligation. And while we are directed by Jesus to forgive others, Jesus seems to want us to be forgiving people. People who forgive from the heart in response of the great forgiveness that has been extended to them. That great forgiveness was motivated solely by love. My forgiveness towards others should be the same.
PRAYER
Father, help me to become a person so full of your love, that I naturally forgive those who hurt me.
Father, help me to become a person so full of your love, that I naturally forgive those who hurt me.
1 comment:
Great blog, I hope you can forgive me for being a jerk to you?
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