How Much Do I Owe God? – Part 2
Discovering God’s Riches in Christ
21. Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?”
22. Jesus said to him, “I say not to you, until seven times, but until seventy times seven.”
27. “Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.”
28. “But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants which owed him a hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe me.’”
29. “And 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 cast him into prison, until he should pay the debt.”
31. “So, when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their Lord all that was done.”
32. “Then his Lord, after he had called him, said to him, “O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you begged Me.”
33. “Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?”
34. “And his Lord was furious, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due him.”
35. “So likewise, shall My Heavenly Father do also to you if you from your hearts do not forgive everyone his brother their trespasses.”
Matthew 18:21-22, 27-35
Consider the Debt Owed
One of the ways we understand the value of something is to reflect on what it was like when you did not have that possession. It takes a person who has never owned a vehicle to fully appreciate having one. If you want to know the value of a home, ask a homeless person. They will tell you what it means to have a roof over their head. The same is true for a person who has been healed. They understand the value of healing because they experienced the pain, the long waits for doctors, the medications they had to take, the surgeries or the processes that brought them deliverance. Those who have been sick appreciate their healing. It is inconceivable to not know the value of forgiveness if you have tasted of God’s forgiveness. Those who cannot understand are those still in darkness.
There is the need to fully appreciate the things of God, otherwise it will not only impact our relationship with our Heavenly Father but will also impact our earthly relationships. When we fully embrace God’s love and compassion, it will direct us to show that compassion with others. To love God is to know His direction in everything you do; this will impact you and everyone you meet in life. Please note that this runs counter to our world culture. Greed, pride, revenge, and a host of evils drive our world culture.
Some of you may recall the Hunt brothers and the great silver scandal of the late 1970s. Nelson “Bunker” Hunt and his brothers William Herbert and Lamar Hunt, embarked on a scheme to manipulate the price of silver world-wide. At one point, they owned over two thirds of privately held silver on earth. They had the wealth to do it as they were heirs to the fortunes of H.L. Hunt, the Texas oil billionaire. According to Wikipedia, they had more money than they knew what to do with it and took risks just because they had the where-withal to do it. In the 1960s Bunker was considered the world’s wealthiest billionaire. After the oil fields in Libya were nationalized by the dictator Muammar Gaddafi, Bunker set out to make money that would be recession proof. Since the Securities and Exchange Commission did not permit the purchase of gold in mass to private investors, he chose silver as his target. By 1973, he and his brother had amassed 35 million ounces of the precious metal and moved over 1,000 tons to a massive vault in Switzerland. Through their manipulations of the silver futures market in 1979, they drove the price per ounce from $10 to over $50 per ounce by January of 1980. That is when the market peaked and started tumbling until it reached a low on March 27, 1980. The silver thrill was over, and the Hunt brothers were finally indited in 1988 for manipulation of the markets. Their impact was felt worldwide. Medical and electrical equipment costs skyrocketed worldwide. Bunker’s comment was, “a billion dollars is not what it used to be.”
When we don’t value something, other people suffer. Our Scripture text introduces a factor that transforms us from self-centered, egotistical creatures, into caring individuals who respond to others with compassion. Jesus zeroed in on the key factor by stating emphatically that the King had compassion on the heavily indebted servant. Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
If You Got It – Then Give It
You can only imagine what went through the servant’s mind as he left the presence of the King. Was he thankful or was he already plotting to regain his fortunes? Was his mind on the compassion shown or on the list of people he could use to gain wealth? We must also recall the question that led to Jesus telling this parable. As you recall, Peter asked Jesus how many times should he forgive his brother. He even suggested a reasonable number of seven times. Jesus, in turn told Peter that the number should be much higher, even 490 times. It is doubtful that in all of our rough dealings, we have ever or ever will encounter someone who wrongs us 490 times. Dr. Adam Clarke suggests that none of us have reached that mark in our earthly encounters. This does not mean that people will not hurt us or owe us much even with one encounter, but we must remember and recall how much we owe God. In that same light, everyone of us have offended God much more than 490 times. It is not only wonderful to know that God has forgiven us, but it gives us full assurance that we have the capacity to forgive others. If you have got it – then you can surely give it.
Unfortunately, the forgiven servant did not apply what he had been given. But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants which owed him a hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe me’” … “And his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will pay you all’” … “And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay the debt.” Please note that it was the same servant, but also note that he committed this act on the same day. What a contrast in his attitude, his account, and his actions. Rather than showing respect for his “fellow servant,” his was a hostile attitude and one of demand. His harsh words are followed with harsh treatment of the fellow servant in that he laid hands on him and took him by the throat. In legal terms, he assaulted the man as he demanded repayment for the debt. Here is a question, what gives people the right to mistreat other humans just because they may not have what someone else has? What gives people the right to attack other people because of their race, their culture, or their religion? While people may think they are justified in such actions, they prove that they don’t know the very God they claim to believe in. Hatred of others is never justified.
The forgiven servant not only had a hostile attitude, but he had problems with reconciling the account. While he was forgiven an enormous debt that calculated into millions of days of wages, the “fellow servant” only owed him a tad more than three months wages. Why was this scoundrel so demanding when the amount could have been settled in small claims court? Why did he do it? Jesus answered by saying that he was “wicked.” Wicked people only value one thing and that is themselves. They have no regard for what has been given to them because it is never enough. They can have it all and still lust for more. The forgiven servant had an opportunity to make good on what he had been given, but he blew it on selfishness and the need to control another person’s destiny.
Did the fellow servant owe the debt? Yes. Was the fellow servant aware of that debt? Yes, and he responded the same way that the forgiven servant responded. And his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will pay you all. Those words should have struck a chord of remembrance in his heart, but when you are out of tune with the King, the heart is cold and uncaring. Rather than have compassion, the forgiven servant took his own actions and had the fellow servant imprisoned. That was cold! He had it, he got it, he received – but could not give it.
As the old saying goes, “what goes around comes around.” The word circulated among the other servants. They understood what had happened in both cases. They made a collective complaint to the King of all the forgiven servant had done. At this point we can see the “Oh-Oh” in the passage. So, when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their Lord all that was done … Then his Lord, after he had called him, said to him, “O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you begged Me” … “Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?” … And his Lord was furious, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due him. The King was not upset over the amount of debt, but over the actions of the forgiven servant. How dare him treat others that way when that was not how he was treated in the debt he owed. The one who had received compassion did not give compassion in return. The one who was forgiven of his tremendous debt did not have any goodness to forgive someone else a trivial debt. He owed but did not think to apply that to what he owed. In the end, he paid what could have been avoided. The debt was wiped clean until the moment he forgot what forgiveness was all about. Jesus taught this parable to remind not only Peter but everyone to know the meaning of forgiveness. If you cannot or will not forgive others it means only one thing – you don’t appreciate forgiveness.
Once the parable was complete, Jesus did not leave the interpretation to chance or to Peter’s application. Jesus told Peter, and all of us, how to apply the parable. So likewise, shall My Heavenly Father do also to you if you from your hearts do not forgive everyone his brother their trespasses. I close with four power perspectives.
First, God has forgiven us beyond all limits because of His compassion. His forgiveness goes beyond 490 or 100 trillion or any other number. His forgiveness is without limits.
Second, being forgiven becomes the basis for how we should treat others who hurt and offend us. If you received it, then don’t be afraid to give it.
Third, forgiveness applies to everyone not just the people that I find it easier to forgive. God has given us the capacity to forgive, by sharing His compassion in our hearts. The Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:5
Lastly, receiving forgiveness produces compassion in believing hearts. This is brought out in the life of the Old Testament character, Joseph. His brothers hated him, wanted to kill him, and in their jealousy sold him as a slave to a band of Midianites. You would think that Joseph would harbor a grudge, but that is not what happened. God had a plan for Joseph to become a ruler in Egypt. Even when Joseph was lied on by Potiphar’s wife, and forgotten by the king’s butler, Joseph determined to walk in forgiveness. That commitment landed him an audience with Pharaoh for a position that had never been created because it was not time. When God’s time came, Joseph not only interpreted Pharaoh’s dream but provided leadership skills that no one else had. Why? He walked in the power of forgiveness. When his brothers finally came to Egypt in search of food, Joseph understood why God had sent him ahead of time to preserve their lives. Rather than grabbing them by the throats, he embraced them as his brothers. He forgave in love. Let us go and do likewise.