You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me

Today, we’re looking at the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. Let me set the scene!

Always inquisitive, Peter comes to Jesus and asks:

“Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered: “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times.”

- Matthew 18:21-22

I can just hear Peter, can’t you? “You’ve got to be kidding me, Jesus!” But Jesus doesn’t stop there but goes on to tell a parable. It is found in Matthew 18:23-27:

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. ‘At this 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.

Great story, right? But how does the servant respond? Matthew 18:28-30 says:

But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

The good news is that other servants were watching and reported back to the master! Because of this forgiven servant’s lack of mercy for another, he was jailed and tortured until he could repay his debt. Now for the lesson for all of us:

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

- Matthew 18:35

Friends, this is a difficult parable for all of us. It’s hard to forgive an ex spouse, a parent or a friend. Even more so for the person that murdered a family member, sexually abused you, or abandoned you and your children. I want to be clear - there are consequences for sin! I’m not suggesting that these types of crimes go unpunished!

What I am saying is that you and I are responsible to forgive as we’ve been forgiven.

The point of this Parable is not to get fixed on a specific number, checklist, or scorecard as Peter was doing. Jesus wanted His followers, both then and now, to get into the habit of forgiving. It should be second nature. According to one theologian, when Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive, Jesus essentially told him, “As many times as it takes.”

We may never forget what occurred and the relationship may never be able to be restored on this side of Heaven. But we no longer need to keep a record of wrongs, ready to bring the hurt back to the surface. When we forgive, we are set free from anger, resentment, bitterness and the constant need to “get even.” I’ve sat with many of you through the years who have finally been able to forgive a deep wound. I’ve seen firsthand physical health improve and a deep, surging joy emanate from those that were hurt.

Ephesians 4:31-32 says:

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

As we continue through the season of Lent, let’s not forget that our forgiveness required Jesus to die for each one of us. He DIED! For US!

Friends, freely we’ve been forgiven! Let’s freely forgive. (Matthew 10:8b).

Pastor Pam

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