Slices
Prepare
Make a list of ways in which you feel that life has not been fair in recent times, either to you or to others. Do you need to forgive from your heart?
Bible passage
The parable of the unmerciful servant
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’
22 Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 ‘Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 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.
26 ‘At this the servant fell on his knees before him. “Be patient with me,” he begged, “and I will pay back everything.” 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, cancelled the debt and let him go.
28 ‘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.
29 ‘His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, “Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.”
30 ‘But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 ‘Then the master called the servant in. “You wicked servant,” he said, “I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 ‘This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.’
Explore
Today’s parable is not an easy read. It describes the outworking of justice, something most of us would hope to avoid. One debtor is threatened with the loss of his family; another with torture. Neither has anyone else to blame. They are not entitled to forgiveness, and nor are we – not from anyone. And we are not required to judge. Our business is to forgive, in imitation of Christ; but also because – if only we can achieve it – there is no better pair of feelings than to have forgiven someone, and to know that we are forgiven ourselves.
This Christian idea has perhaps been undersold by the church. It is a gift Jesus offers to everyone. It is we, his disciples, who should be demonstrating its releasing power (vs 21,22). Our teaching on forgiveness is surely a pathway to peace and contentment. This is true in a special way for people of faith, but forgiveness is a vital tool for any human life. Only the Lord himself has ever fully mastered the skills and devotion involved, but we can all have a go!
Respond
Rejoice in response to the infinitely loving and forgiving heart of Jesus. Ask the Lord to help you share this Christian idea of forgiveness with others, as part of the good news of Jesus Christ to the world.
Deeper Bible study
Am I willing to forgive after the 77th time?! Search my heart, O Lord.
Resentment and lack of forgiveness carry sad spiritual consequences. Our relationship with God becomes dry and unreal. ‘Is there someone you will not forgive?’ is a pertinent question to ask if we feel our walk with God has become pedestrian. Peter would have been shocked at Jesus’ reply to his question; he would have considered seven times extremely generous! Yet Jesus is continuing his theme of the cost of discipleship which he has underlined earlier in this chapter (see vs 8,9). Unlimited forgiveness is to be offered to any brother or sister who has offended you. Relationships in the church are of crucial importance, Jesus is saying, and if these are not right, the church will not flourish.
The parable shows the king extending amazing mercy to the man’s incalculable debt. Astonishing grace – and see how God acts towards those who could never repay what they owe. That is what God has done with the sins of any disciple, which are like huge debts that grow every day: God says ‘I release you from that debt’. The man in the parable, however, exacted the last penny from the fellow servant who owed him a trifling amount.
Again, we see Matthew showing how Jesus opposes cheap grace; we cannot claim to be forgiven and then show by the way we behave that our hearts have not been changed. The Lord’s Prayer has already taught us this principle.1 Here it is again, in full colour! The message of these verses may be summed up thus: ‘God eternally and unconditionally forgives those who repent of so immense a debt against him that it is unconscionable for believers to refuse to grant forgiveness to each other for sins that remain trivial in comparison.’2 Like all God’s gifts, forgiveness brings responsibility – it must be passed on.
If we are to open our hands to receive God’s gracious forgiveness, we must not keep our fists clenched against others. Lord, please impress this upon our hearts.
1 Matt 6:14,15 2 Craig L Blomberg, Matthew, Broadman Press, 1992, p282
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Daniel 10–12; Psalms 135,136
Pray for Scripture Union
Give thanks to God that at last we can meet in person again, and for all the wonderful opportunities that presents for us to share Jesus with children and young people.
