“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” (Matthew 18:28-35)
In the previous blog post, "Justice, and Mercy!", we discussed the price God pays in forgiving us, namely the death of His Son in our place (the Lamb of God). Now we learn from the same story, Christ taught the price we will pay if we don't forgive others. The servant was forgiven by the king a debt that he had absolutely no way to pay back. Now this same servant is unwilling to forgive a fellow servant for a debt, that is only a fraction of what he owed and was forgiven of. Don't misunderstand the masters reaction: he is not taking aways his forgiveness of the debt; he is causing this servant to suffer with the guilt of not showing mercy to his fellow man, until he "pay" what he received, forgiveness.
When someone does something wrong towards us, or in this example, owes us something and will not or cannot repay, we have to forgive them. But God does instruct us that He will take care of someone who does anything to us, because vengeance is God's. (Deuteronomy 32:5) Forgiveness does not mean allowing others to continue taking advantage of us, nor does it necessarily lead to reconciliation. We are to be wise stewards of all God gives us, in all of the choices we make. (Luke 12:42)
True forgiveness is not holding on the the bitterness and desire for justice we feel or have the right to: But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. ... Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:23,34); For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (I Peter 2:21-24)
Consider listening to Pastor Erwin Lutzer series "You Can't Redo Life" - lesson 3 of 10, Getting Forgiveness Right: http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/running-to-win/
No comments:
Post a Comment