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"How
oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven
times?" Matthew 18:22
Peter asked this question of Jesus. Jesus answered saying to forgive
unto seventy times seven. If my brother asks me to forgive him every
three minutes for a twenty-four hour period, I am to forgive.
Jesus didn't stop there, but went on to tell a parable of even
greater magnitude. A servant owed a King 10,000 talents. When he
couldn't pay the debt, the king forgave him. The servant went his
way and found a fellow servant who owed him 100 pence. He grabbed
him by the throat and demanded payment. Upon hearing about this, the
king delivered him to the tormentors until he could pay all he owed.
Let's look at the proportions given in this story. Jesus certainly
was speaking in hyperbole to drive his point home. The 100 pence if
paid in small silver coins, could be carried in a man's pocket.
Jesus was not unmindful however of the reality of our hurts and
offences. It would take a laborer a full 12 hour day to repay 1% of
that debt. If someone were also to live off their wage it could take
years to repay.
However, the 10,000 talents debt would require an army of 8,600
carriers, each carrying 60 pounds of coins. If each walked single
file a yard apart the line would stretch for 5 miles. Let it be
pointed out that the entire yearly revenue of Herod the Great's
territories was only 900 talents.
A test of true discipleship is a willingness to show others the same
forgiveness that we ourselves have received. The debt owed the king
could not be paid in 50,000 life times. Nor could we ever have paid
the debt for our own sins. The sobering reality is that as in the
parable, if we do not forgive others, neither will we ourselves be
forgiven.
If you are ever tempted to hold a grudge or feelings against one who
has wronged you, turn your mind to Calvary and recall the great debt
that has been paid for us all. "Freely ye have received, freely
give."
-Sis. René
Smith |
