Forgiveness
By Dr Marilyn Bouniu
Scripture:
Matthew 18:21-35 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
Lesson:
Jesus wants us to forgive 70 x 7 times.
70 x 7 = 490
Luke 17:3-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."In other words, we need not count the number of times we need to forgive. It is uncountable. Our forgiveness is inexhaustible. We forgive as many times as required whether in a day or in a lifetime.
1 denarius = 1 day's wage for a servant
100 denarii = 100 days wages = 1/3 of a year's wages (4 months; working 6 days a week with rest on Sabbath)
1 talent = 6000 denarii = 6000 days wages = 20 years wages (working 6 days a week with rest on Sabbath)
10 000 talents = 200 000 years wages
The servant owed 10 000 talents which amounts to 200 000 years wages. This is an unpayable debt. Since the servant could not pay, the master decided that the servant be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant begged for mercy. The master was merciful. He released and forgave the debt completely, rendering the account zero.
However, the servant did not do likewise to his fellow servant. He demanded that the debt of 100 denarii be made and was not merciful to allow his fellow servant time to pay him back. This debt was payable in several months. However, he sent him to prison instead. This would hinder the chances of paying back the debt further.
When the master heard what this servant had done to his fellow servant, he was angry and pointed out to him that he should have been merciful to his fellow servant just as he was merciful to him. Thus, the wicked servant was delivered to the torturers until he paid back the great debt he owed.
Our Heavenly Father is a merciful God. He will forgive us our sins when we repent. When He forgives us, He will no longer remember our sins. The account is zero. No matter how many times we sin against Him again after He has forgiven us of our past sins, it would appear as if we had only sin against Him the first time.
Hebrews 8:12
Hebrews 8:12 New King James Version (NKJV)
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."
Jeremiah 31:31-34 New King James Version (NKJV)
A New Covenant
31 "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."When He forgives us, He will no longer remember our sins. The account is zero. No matter how many times we sin against Him again after He has forgiven us of our past sins, it would appear as if we had only sin against Him the first time. His mercies are new every single morning. We need it because we use it all up in a day.
Lamentations 3:22-23 New King James Version (NKJV)
22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
Likewise, we need to forgive in the same manner as our Heavenly Father. We should remember the sins no more. When we remember them no more, we do not keep count of the number of times. It would be easier to forgive. The burden is light because we have completely released them and ourselves from it. We must forgive willingly and in love, with the love of God. Then, we are able to forgive no matter what sin and how many times.
When we do not forgive, we are only torturing ourselves.
Unforgiveness is a sin. The wages of sin is death.
Romans 6:23 NKJV
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The wicked servant was not able to forgive because he was not merciful and he did not really understand or did not remember what he was forgiven of. He was forgiven an unpayable debt.
Similarly, when we are unable to forgive others, we either did not understand or have forgotten what we have been forgiven. We have been forgiven by our Heavenly Father an unpayable debt. The wages of sin is death. This debt was paid by our Lord Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection. We have been forgiven of our sins by the work of our Lord Jesus.
There is no other means by which we can be forgiven. There is nothing that we can do to obtain forgiveness in our own effort. It is a debt that we cannot pay, an unpayable debt. When we do not forgive others, we have either not really understood the forgiveness that we have received from God or we have forgotten.
Therefore, forgive others just as our Heavenly Father has forgiven us.
