The Unmerciful Servant (Forgiveness)

Hey guys, it's been a while. Still, I hope to be updating this frequently, so I hope yall enjoy! 

I was just reading Matthew 18:21-35 and suddenly felt cut to the heart; convicted. I knew this story and am always reminded of VeggieTales when the Grapes of Wrath ask how many times we need to forgive someone. Of course Biblically the answer is “four hundred an’ ninety” :)

But if I knew Jesus’ answer then why did I feel so uncomfortable? Perhaps it is because of the parable Jesus tells right after, the parable of the Unmerciful Servant:

                “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.²⁴ As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. ²⁵ Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

²⁶ “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ ²⁷ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

Stop right here. Read it again. “The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.” Go back to the beginning. It states, “…the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.” Wanted; desired. God is the King (Psalm 47) of all and he longs for that relationship to be fixed now so that we can live a life with him! Don’t wait until you personally think you are worthy of a life with him (because that is never going to happen) (Isaiah 6:1-7). Live your life now with God in control. This is through casting down your problems on him (Matthew 11:28-30) so that he is able to forgive you with everything you have done the moment it happens—don’t wait, allow every opportunity for God to come into your life.

Let us continue on:

²⁸ “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

²⁹ “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

³⁰ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. ³¹ When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

³² “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³ Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ ³⁴ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

³⁵ “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

I thought that Jesus was a bit harsh, explaining the first servant in such an impatient and violent manner. But isn’t that what Jesus likes to do? Make us feel uncomfortable? He tends to tell us the truth, as bitter and as real as it should be. Yes, as I read this and felt the creeping feeling of irritation, I came to realize that I was guilty of this very thing. Perhaps I did not demand from my friends such an amount of money, but, just as ruthlessly as the servant, I did not forgive.  I immediately thought back to the time when some of my friends would constantly fall from the “straight and narrow path” (Matthew7:13-14) and would ask for me to give them a ride, buy necessities, or even take them to church after they had been absent for several months. Sure, I helped them out, but many of the times it was with a hesitation, not joyfully willing to give them aid like a follower of the Way should.

                Also, another question I might ask is, “Do I expect these people to repay me in some sort of way?” The answer should be “No.” No because these people need the help, and if God is able to rescue me from my troubles without asking for anything in return; to forgive me of my ferocious sins for free, then I should be able to do the same. If I truly love God and notice the way he loves me, that love will in turn be shown towards others, especially those who are hurting and ache for the true love.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

How can we be forgiven by God if we are not able to forgive others? And I am sure God has forgiven me more than 490 times.