9-13-26 Matthew 18:21-35

21 Peter came and said to [Jesus,] “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
  23 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him, 25 and, as he could not pay, the lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions and payment to be made. 26 So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. 31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 35 So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Take every opportunity to be merciful and gracious, Jesus leads the way for us.

Ever been like Peter, with your mouth getting you into deep water every time you think you are showing intelligence? Peter may even have been looking for a little pat on the back. ‘Look at me, Jesus, I am so willing to be forgiving, I would even extend that forgiveness to my brother or sister as many as seven times. Wouldn’t that make me a great and gracious guy?!’ Good ‘ol Peter, thinking he had climbed up on a pedestal this time, but sure enough, he gets knocked right off.  For Jesus retorts with a hoot: ‘Seven times! Not even close. Try for 77 times. See how that feels.’

Jesus is no accountant, he is not suggesting you keep a record of wrongs, just the opposite. If you are counting, then your forgiving has already gone off track. He shares this story which his listeners could readily identify with; it is about debts, it’s about one’s position in life, being above some and below others on the status scale. It’s about having an opportunity to give or to withhold. We should be able to find ourselves within this story as well, even though we are not comfortable with the characters of kings and slaves. We can replace them easily with bosses and employees, or with parents, children and siblings.

We ought to be very well acquainted with the sin that prompts all this need for forgiving. We have learned the ten commandments. We know we are to give worship and honor to God, upholding his name, and we are to have no other to be God to us. We are fully aware of the prohibitions that God’s law has established; never to kill or harm one another, not to commit adultery, covet or steal, never to lie or betray. Displays that erupt into physical or verbal abuse are not to be allowed or tolerated. We are also to remember the positive side of those commands. So that we do protect nature and property for it belongs to God. We are to help each other by taking care of what is theirs, tell the truth, keep our promises, act as a good neighbor with kindness, generosity and compassion. We are to speak well about each other, helping the neighbor keep their good name. We are to obey parents and persons placed in authority. It is a long list of directions that are meant to rule our lives so that the best living can be had for all and that no one is left out. As we review all that we know we are to be and do, we will discover that we often fail utterly or do a less than adequate job of accomplishing what would be in the other’s best interests or even our own. The relationships we have with family, friends, and neighbors become strained, broken, and sometimes destroyed completely. We strike back when we have been hurt. If there were scores being kept on our behavior, it would amount to a large number in the debt column. We won’t even mention about those sins of omission- when we missed the opportunity to do good.

In today’s parable we have been told about a slave that has accumulated incredible debt - owed to the king. He could not possibly repay it. Even the debt relief company wouldn’t touch this guy! So, when his debts are erased, it is a dream come true, a get out of jail free card. We can readily appreciate the king’s dismay, even affronted anger, when it is then revealed that the man who had been released by him from his debts, did not forgive his fellow worker that reasonable amount owed to him. With patience it actually could have been repaid. Yet the one who had been forgiven was not inspired to pass along the great kindness which he had been shown.

As I have mentioned recently in messages to you, again Matthew has included another parable from Jesus to illustrate how we are meant to be dedicated to actions for which we pray in the Lord’s Prayer. We ask God to forgive our trespasses (our debts), as we forgive those who trespass against us. You can make the connection here with no trouble. It isn’t understanding this concept which confounds us, it is in the doing. In this prayer we ask to be forgiven, in the way that matches how we forgive.  If that is the measure by which we are to be forgiven - we are indeed in big trouble!  Which is why we pray to the Lord to help us, to give us the support we need for being truly forgiving. We ask to let go of the vengeance or payment or retribution to which we feel we are entitled. Forgiveness is meant to be paid forward as the parable teaches. If it is not, others will not learn of or appreciate the largess of our Lord. Jesus wanted his disciples, those in the past and us in the present, to willingly forgive their neighbors if they expect God to show forgiveness to them. People who do not extend mercy  should not expect to receive mercy from others or from God.

We realize, as has been alluded to throughout the gospels, divine forgiveness is not wholly dependent on humanity’s performance in the passing along of that pardon. Matthew made note in the first chapter of his account (1:21) Jesus “will save his people from their sins.” No qualifications earned by us were given. The forgiveness that comes from Christ is actually grace and grace is ‘undeserved love.’

Then, when Jesus initiated His Supper, we learned that it is Christ’s own ‘blood’ that is ‘poured out’ for the forgiveness of your sins. (26:28)  And in Matthew 20 (vs 28) on the cross Jesus gave his life as a ransom for many. It is his life offered as a ransom payment that was made to cover the people’s debt of sin.

Like that first slave in the Parable it was virtually impossible for him to completely pay down what he owed the king. Jesus is for us that super-sized offering that covers the ways we have short-changed our God, disappointed him and disrupted God’s plans.

How often are you to forgive? You know the answer to that!  You also know who to look to as the example you need. You know from whom assistance will come, the support that you can depend upon. Jesus saves us, teaches us, and takes our hand pulling us along.