July 30, Matthew 18
Since the days of Solomon, it’s been true that the borrower is servant to the lender. But most of us are in debt of one kind or another. We have mortgages on our houses and enjoy things bought on credit. A credit card company once advertised that you could have it all and you could have it now. If you’re one of the millions who’ve used easy credit to borrow more than you can afford to pay back, would you be interested in an offer to forgive all the debt? Of course you would.
I’m not sure how the unmerciful servant got as deeply into debt as he did. An ESV footnote tells us a talent was worth about twenty years of a worker’s wages. This fellow owed ten thousand talents. I’m no math major, but I think that’s about 200,000 years’ wages. And you thought you were in trouble! When his master
pitied the debtor and forgave the impossible debt, he gave the man his life back. You remember the story. The man with the newfound freedom went out and looked up a fellow servant who owed him about three or four months’ wages. As he demanded payment from his debtor, he should have heard the echo of his own recent plea to his master: “Have
patience with me and I will pay you.” But the one who had been shown so much mercy was merciless toward his fellow. After other servants saw and told the master what had happened, the forgiven man’s debt was reinstated and he went to prison for the rest of his life.
Jesus said that’s what it’s like to be forgiven by God and be unforgiving toward one another. We’re taught to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.” We’re supposed to
let go of bitterness and forgive one another, even as Christ forgave us. We can only understand the necessity and propriety of forgiving undeserving people who’ve hurt us in the context of our own forgiveness. We didn’t deserve it, either. But God was willing, at the cross, to cancel our debt. Because Jesus paid for our sins with his own innocent blood, God is willing to look at us and say, “You don’t owe anymore. Debt forgiven.”
The story is about monetary debt to help us understand. The indebted servant could have begged for a payment plan and begun a futile attempt to whittle down the balance owed. Our debt to God cannot be represented with complete accuracy by any material expression. We lack the currency to make even a token repayment. When God’s grace extends an offer of forgiveness to us, we cannot afford to be harsh toward those who “owe” us about lesser matters. Enjoy the freedom God has granted you by sharing the mercy with others.
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide
for Your Journey Through the New Testament,
Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used
by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—July 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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