Matthew 18:21-35 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 18:21-35 on biblegateway.com
Verse 21Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Verse 22Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. Verse 23"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. Verse 24When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; Verse 25and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. Verse 26So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' Verse 27And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. Verse 28But 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.' Verse 29Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' Verse 30But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. Verse 31When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Verse 32Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Verse 33Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' Verse 34And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. Verse 35So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."
Devotion
Yesterday we heard Peter’s question about how many times we should forgive. Today we focus on Jesus’ parable of an unforgiving servant, who, forgiven a massive debt, will not forgive a fellow servant’s meager debt, and so is punished. Jesus’ concluding words seem harsh: “So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
In his Working Preacher comments on this parable (September 11, 2011), Karl Jacobson offers two thoughts about forgiveness and this parable. He says, “First, forgiveness in the parable is both an extravagant and a precious thing. …Second, forgiveness in Matthew is not only relational, it is reciprocal and reliant.” Jacobson continues: “Forgiveness lies at the heart of our faith in God and our love of one another…The parable turns the tables, teaching us that we have been first forgiven and encourage[s] us to forgive in turn.”
Prayer
God of all, your forgiveness is precious and extravagant, just like your love. Help us learn to forgive others just as extravagantly. Amen.
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