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Bible Study |
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Forgive Us Our Debts (Matthew 18:21-35)
I always think that this is an interesting and challenging parable. It began with a question. Simon Peter said to Jesus: "Master, if my brother sins against me, how many times should I forgive him? Seven times?" Peter by asking this question is not expecting rebuke but praise because according to Jewish law, he was actually doing something good. The law clearly read: "If a man transgresses one time, forgive him. If a man transgresses two times, forgive him. If a man transgresses three times, forgive him. If a man transgresses four times, do not forgive him." Peter has actually gone further than the law in offering forgiveness seven times, and so will have been shocked by the rebuke of Jesus. I believe that Jesus was trying to convey two things to Peter 2. Second, a forgiven soul should be a forgiving soul. 1. Forgiveness carries a heavy price. Sometimes we act as though we are forgiving people but we only forgive the easy things or the things that suit us. The King had to forgive a great debt, but we find that hard. Sometimes we're afraid of forgiving those who've hurt us much. "I can't forgive them" we hear people cry. I was always struck by the example of Gordon Wilson whose daughter was murdered by an IRA bomb in Enniskillen. He forgave the murderers very publicly. Now that was a heavy price for him. The price is heavy because it involves loss of self. We lose pride, face, respect etc. And of course the heaviest price of all was paid by Jesus on the cross. Do you remember the popular song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon?" It tells of a man who's been sent to prison. He's served his time and is now coming home on the bus. But he admits that she who once loved him has every right to reject him. He's to blame. So he's written to tell her that if she forgives him, she should "tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree." If there's no yellow ribbon, he'll just go riding by on the bus. As the journey continues, all the man thinks about is that oak tree. When he gets home, will there be a yellow ribbon on it? The song ends in triumph with the entire busload of people cheering as the man sees not one but a hundred yellow ribbons on that old oak tree! His girlfriend not only forgives him, but she exuberantly welcomes him home. Like the man on the bus, we're fearful of death and what's ahead. We know our own hearts, and we wonder if God will really forgive us, let alone celebrate our coming. But the Word assures us of God's welcome. The yellow ribbons will be there. God welcomes us home exuberantly. If you substitute the old oak tree for the cross of Jesus and begin to think about the forgiveness of Jesus shown on that cross so that we may be welcomed into Heaven as forgiven people, then that is a cause for us to rejoice. 2 A forgiven soul should be a forgiving soul. Note the play on words…… Forgiven people should be forgiving of others. Do we do that? We have been forgiven by God for our sins, so we should not be judgemental about others, and yet the Church so frequently is. Ours is a great debt but we are intolerant of the sins of others; There is always the risk of becoming pious and `holier than thou` in our attitude; we can easily assume we're got it right and everyone else should see it our way. It is too tempting to forget we are sinners in the same way as others. I always remember sharing a stage with the late, great Rev. Rob Frost who was given a huge introductory welcome by the host for the evening, extolling his virtues and achievements. Then I remember Rob getting up, going to the microphone in front of about 2000 people and quietly saying, "Yes, I'm Rob Frost; sinner; forgiven by the Grace of God" and that's how he began, by recognising his own sinfulness before inspiring us all in our own journeys with Jesus. When we truly recognise that we have been forgiven, then we should want to forgive others. 3 What stops us? William Barclay wrote the following There is one eternal principal which will be valid as long as the world lasts. The principle is -- Forgiveness is a costly thing. Human forgiveness is costly. A son or a daughter may go wrong; a father or a mother may forgive; but that forgiveness has brought tears ... There was a price of a broken heart to pay. Divine forgiveness is costly. God is love, but God is holiness. God, least of all, can break the great moral laws on which the universe is built. Sin must have its punishment or the very structure of life disintegrates. And God alone can pay the terrible price that is necessary before men can be forgiven. Forgiveness is never a case of saying: "It's all right; it doesn't matter." Forgiveness is the most costly thing in the world. Not everyone is prepared to pay the price. Another quotation… If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Saviour. |
© 2010 Reverend Michael Redshaw |
