HOW TO PASS THE TEST OF FORGIVENESS
Matthew 18:21-35
By Sis. Bing Domingo
Chuck Swindoll reported that a seminary student in Chicago faced a forgiveness test. Although he preferred to work in some kind of ministry, the only job he could find was driving a bus on Chicago's south side. One day a gang of tough teens got on board and refused to pay the fare. After a few days of this, the seminarian spotted a policeman on the corner, stopped the bus, and reported them. The officer made them pay, but then he got off. When the bus rounded a corner, the gang robbed the seminarian and beat him severely. He pressed charges and the gang was rounded up. They were found guilty. But as soon as the jail sentence was given, the young Christian saw their spiritual need and felt pity for them. So he asked the judge if he could serve their sentences for them. The gang members and the judge were dumbfounded. "It's because I forgive you," he explained. His request was denied, but he visited the young men in jail and led several of them to faith in Christ. (http://www.
Did this seminary student pass the forgiveness test? Obviously he did! Just like this student, I’m sure that many of us are undergoing some kind of forgiveness test. How often have we encountered people who offend or hurt us? If they are just but tests of forgiveness for us, how do we score? It is my prayer that this message will help us pass the forgiveness test every time we face it.
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Unforgiving Servant)
Matt 18:21-35 (NASB)
Then Peter came and said to Him, "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 "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. 26 So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.' 27 And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.' 29 So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.' 30 But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. 31So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. 32 Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 ' Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' 34 And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
In the beginning of Matthew 18, Jesus was teaching His disciples about humility and offenses, and then He goes on and warned them against temptation, against looking down on others. He expressed His concern about every human being He created as He told the parable of the lost sheep and then laid down guidelines for dealing with those who sin against us. At this point, Peter asked, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me, up to seven times?” Peter thought that he was already more generous because many Jewish rabbis taught that three times were enough. But Jesus answered him, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven”. Jesus’ reply to Peter should not to be taken literally. What He really wanted Peter to know is that we should not even keep track of how many times we forgive someone. To further illustrate His point that we should forgive as many times as necessary, Jesus tells the parable of the unmerciful servant.
From this parable we should remember three things in order for us to pass the forgiveness test.
1. God’s Mercy and Forgiveness towards you.
v.27 "And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.
A slave owed the king a debt of Ten Thousand Talents. How large is ten thousand talents? Since a talent was worth more than 15 years’ worth of wages for an average worker, it is at least 150,000 years’ worth of money! Indeed it was a very huge amount that it was impossible for him to pay his master. Yet, the king showed compassion on him and in his mercy has cancelled his debt.
We are all like that slave who owed God a debt we could not pay. Every sin we commit is a debt to God. The Bible says that we are all God’s debtors and the wages of sin is death. But because of God’s mercy and compassion towards us, He forgave our sins through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. Let us be thankful to God and focus on His mercy towards us. Freely we have received His forgiveness, freely we must also forgive.
2. The Sins of others against you are so tiny compared to your sins against God.
v.28 "But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii.
The debt of the second slave is just about 100 days’ worth of money, (a denarius was a day’s wage) which is significantly smaller debt compared to the first servant. When someone sins against us, remember that it is nothing compared to the enormous sins we have committed against God. Out of our thankful hearts and appreciation, we are to forgive the much smaller debts of others. It is easy to forgive others, for what we owe God is infinitely more than what others owe us.
3. God will not forgive you if you don’t forgive others of their sins against you.
34 "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35 " My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
The forgiveness of God is conditional. He will only forgive those who choose to forgive others.
Matt 6:14-15
If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you. But if you don't forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
When we refuse to let go and release others from their sins toward us then our heavenly Father will not forgive us, instead, He will hand us over to the torturers. That’s why unforgiveness not only gives demons the right or the ability to torment us, but also prevents God from forgiving our sins. This is a strong warning to all who refuse to forgive: People can fall into the hands of demonic spirits for torment and harassment if they are unforgiving and bitter inside.
Conclusion:
God wants us to forgive the way He has forgiven us. He never keeps a record of our mistakes and His forgiveness is without limit. Our Lord Jesus chose to carry upon Himself the consequence of our sins. He paid the price of the debt that was impossible for us to pay. He did it when He died on the cross for you and me. Jesus has set us free from our debt but He did not release us from our obligation to obey His command to forgive others the way He does.
Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Indeed offenses are inevitable. God sometimes allows people in our lives to offend and hurt us so that by them we can exercise the love and forgiveness we have received from Him. If we really love God, we believe that He will work all things for our good. He desires to see in us the character of our Lord Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit, He wants this to be displayed in us so that the world will know that we are His children and truly His disciples!
So the next time you are faced with the test of forgiveness, remember these 3 things:
1. BE FOCUSED : Meditate on God’s mercy and forgiveness towards you
2. BE GRATEFUL : The Sins of others against you are so tiny compared to your sins against God
3. BE WARNED : God will not forgive you if you don’t forgive others of their sins against you
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