FORGIVENESS . . . LORD, WHAT DO YOU ASK OF ME?
- Key Verse
Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" (Matthew 18:21)
READ TODAY'S PASSAGE-
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Central Truth
Forgiveness is generally not natural. It is something we learn. Rather than truly forgive, however, we usually just overlook or forget wrongs. What does Christ command and expect of me? To love as I have been loved and to forgive as I have been forgiven.
Reflections
It is definitely part of my personality to determine what's expected of me. In school it was, "What's it take to get an 'A'?"
The Rich Young Ruler asked the same of Jesus, but was not thrilled with His answer. (Luke 18:18-23) Likewise, Peter asked Jesus about expectations for forgiveness. Jesus responded similarly. Personally, I am not sure that I have the capacity to forgive seven times, much less seventy times seven.
Matthew 18 describes a servant's debt forgiven by his master. Practically speaking, the debt was an amount greater than any servant could reasonably acquire, much less pay. Even so, it was forgiven completely. The same forgiven servant rushed to collect a debt owed to him, showing none of the mercy or forgiveness afforded him. His master sees how the "wicked servant" responded and justly punishes him for his actions. So I ask myself, what exactly is required in such a circumstance? Jesus tells Peter, "[F]orgive your brother from your heart." (Matthew 18:35, NIV)
The daily grievances, hurt feelings, and minor offenses are easily forgiven or maybe just overlooked. It is forgiveness for the second, third, or seventy-seventh time that I need help with.
To that, I say to myself and the wicked servant, "Maybe you don't fully understand the extent to which you have been forgiven!" The wicked servant owed 10,000 talents, which was more than his wages in a lifetime. If the debt of my sinfulness were left unpaid, it would be similarly spectacular, to say the least. So I ask myself the question again, "Jesus, what do You ask of me?" He has answered, "Have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you." (Matthew 18:33, paraphrased)
Father, help me live with a greater understanding of my own canceled debt and forgive as I have been forgiven.
Discussion Questions
1. What do Jesus' parables tell us about forgiveness?2. Do you recognize the immensity of the debt you have been forgiven?
3. Do you show mercy and extend patience and grace because you also have been forgiven much?
4. In what ways do you rush to judge or collect debts of your own?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Do you have a hard time forgiving others when they hurt you?
2. How many times should we forgive others?
3. Does knowing that Jesus has forgiven you of all your sins help you to forgive others?
Clint miller
March 9, 2010 05:29 AM
Thanks Blake. That's a great reminder of how I'm to forgive others and the extent to which I've been forgiven.
David
March 9, 2010 07:38 AM
BLAKE! Good words! When you have walked where I have walked, I have LEARNED, that TRUE FORGIVENESS, is one of the GREATEST demonstrations of LOVE! I know, what Jesus said in Luke 23:34, He was asking for me! When I look at that passage, it makes it very easy to forgive others! Thanks for your words, they are a call to remind us of how we should be loving others! Have a GREAT week of WORSHIP!
paul rutherford
March 9, 2010 12:54 PM
Blake, thanks for bringing out the expectations in this parable. As a teacher I spend a lot of time thinking about what I expect from my students. Yet, I'd never thought about this passage in that light. Thanks for opening my mind.
Blaine Hale
March 9, 2010 02:32 PM
Blake, Good work on today's passage on forgiveness. It was right on and as you shared forgiveness is from the heart. You also paraphrased Matthew 18:33 perfectly. Very thankful for the grace and mercy I have received and continue to receive.
Marni
March 9, 2010 04:10 PM
The Lord recently brought this passage up in a Bible study I am doing. While reading the passage, I was immediately struck the realization that I needed to forgive a certain person in my life. I had been holding onto my feelings of anger, hurt, and bitterness toward this person, like they were my right. Reading the passage, though, reminded me that I don't have that right. Jesus has completely paid for all of my sins, forgiving me of EVERYTHING. I, in turn, have no right to deny forgiveness to someone else. I made the decision to forgive this person last week. I cannot describe to you the freedom I immediately felt. I wrote down a prayer to the Lord giving over to Him all of the bitterness and hurt I had toward this person. And He took it all away! What wonderful release! I was blessed today to be able to read this passage again, the weight of its words very real and beautiful to me :)
Stephen Patterson
March 9, 2010 04:57 PM
My daughter-in-law sent this to me and the words just jumped off the page. The hard part is when you ask someone for forgiveness and they don't respond with the same love or refuse. I must be open for God softening all hearts and let MY expectations of others take a back seat. It is HIS timing not mine. Bless you for the discussion.
kyle k.
March 16, 2010 10:24 AM
BLake...catching up a bit on the journey this morning...Sure am grateful to the Lord for the growth and maturity in your life...wish all our couples handled thier differences as well as you and Erynn have handled skiing....Looking forward to your leadership at WCC for years to come.. KK