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"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." ~ Matthew 18:28-35
Today, we return to our study of Matthew 18 where the Lord Jesus is highlighting forgiveness as one of the most valued characteristics of greatness in the kingdom of God. In fact, the Lord Jesus had just told Peter a parable where a king forgave a servant who had a debt that he could never have been able to repay, even if he had been given an eternity to do so. This is the gospel, that we were ruined by sin and we had been assured of an eternity in Hell as a result. But, it was then that the Lord Jesus decided to leave heaven in order to be become a man so that He could rescue us from our ultimate misery. It is only those who from their heart ask God for forgiveness who realize true release from such bondage.
In v.28 of today's passage we read, "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!'"
After he had been forgiven his enormous debt, a debt totaling over a billion dollars, the forgiven servant left his master and confronted a fellow slave who owed him a few hundred dollars. The first servant grabbed the second servant with rage in his heart. Astonishing, since he had been forgiven so much, he lacked the will to forgive one who owed him so little. It was Martin Luther who once said, "We are all beggars before God." Forgiven people forgive people. Having been forgiven by God of the inexcusable equips us to forgive the inexcusable in others. We are all forgiven people and for us to refuse to extend forgiveness to others is the height of hypocrisy. It is hypocrisy that prevents us from greatness in the kingdom of God.
In v.29-30 of today's passage we read, "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."
The good part of this story is that the second servant was given the same great opportunity to realize forgiveness as the first servant. But, his ability to feel the enormity of forgiveness wasn't as great as the first servant. Even though the second servant's ability to forgive wasn't as great as the first, he still was exposed to forgiveness. We know forgiveness because God has demonstrated it for us. This is the case with all things good. We would not know the meaning of forgiveness if it weren't for God teaching it to us. Sadly, most of the time we do not learn of forgiveness until we are given a trial to stage the setting. Once the need for forgiveness arrives, it is then that we are positioned to learn its value. This is why the request for forgiveness is preceded in this story with one falling to his knees in worship before the one from who we seek forgiveness. It was Mark Twain who once said, "Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it."
In v.31-33 of today's passage we read, "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?'"
Those who looked on and saw this story unfold were very grieved. As a result they went and told their master who then confronted the first servant. After his master had forgiven all of the debt the first servant owed, the first servant lacked the heart of his master. This is why he would not be the greatest in the kingdom of God. Those who experience the heart of forgiveness are marked by the very same forgiveness. Everyone could be forgiven due to the enormous efficacy of the cross of the Lord Jesus. But, only those with a sincere heart before God know the forgiveness of God. Once we experience God's forgiveness, we will be known as those who forgive.
In v.34-35 of today's passage we read, "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."
Not all come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ because they fail to be embraced by the forgiving heart of God. The Jews missed the heart of God even though God had given hint after hint throughout the Old Testament of the cross. Sadly, people refuse to believe that God loved us so much that He sent His Son to earth to become our substitute on the cross. In today's passage, the king’s servant was rebuked by the king because he lacked compassion in his heart for the servant who owed him. In reality, even though he had been extended forgiveness, the first servant never experienced it. As a result, the jailers of the servant became his "torturers." In stead of being defined by the compassion of God, he chose to be defined by the torture. Forgiveness never defined him. In order to be the greatest in God's kingdom we must first be forgiven by God, and those who have been forgiven forgive "from the heart."
