Now we know Peter’s made a few blunders along the way, but he’s gotten some things right about Jesus, too. He’s identified Jesus as the Messiah, he was chosen to be in Jesus’ inner circle to witness Jesus’ transfiguration, and he’s asked some pretty good questions so Jesus can instruct him and the others and help them grow in their faith and understanding. Way to go, Peter!
But sometimes he reverts to being “Simon” again, like at the start of this passage. Rabbis taught that people should be forgiven 3, maybe 4 times. Peter wants to know Jesus’ take on this so he and the boys can do it right. So, he bumps it up a bit, trying to impress Jesus. “Should we forgive our brother 7 times, Jesus?”, with 7 being the perfect, complete number; much more than the usual 3 or 4.
Jesus responds with: “No, not 7, but 77 or 70x7. In other words, infinite times. or.: “Quit counting – just forgive!” To support this “Jesus Math,” first there’s the Lord’s Prayer and then what we now know as the Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor. Today’s sermon could’ve been titled “Faith & Forgiveness,” but if we have faith enough to take Jesus’ message to heart and can forgive like Jesus does, grace triumphs every time. So, let’s go deeper…
The story tells of a king who decided to settle accounts with his slaves who owed him money. One owed him a lot – 10.000 talents. No matter how you calculate this, whether it’s the possible value of a talent in Jesus’ day vs. today or if it was a gold talent vs. a silver one, it’s a huge amount of money – more than a common person like this guy would ever see in his lifetime, no matter how hard or long he worked.
It would be impossible to come anywhere near to paying it off, and the king knew it. So, he ordered the slave’s wife and all of his children to be sold, along with all his possessions to help pay off this debt. But that would only scratch the surface.
The slave knew it, but still he fell on his knees and begged for mercy. “Be patient with me! I’ll pay back everything!” Amazingly, the king did have pity on him, and in his great mercy, he canceled the whole debt and let him go! That’s grace!
To refresh memories, grace is unmerited favor; a gift or kindness we’re given that we don’t deserve. God’s grace is freely extended to sinful humanity in providing salvation and forgiveness through Jesus Christ that isn’t deserved, and withholds the judgment that is deserved. “For it is by grace we have been saved, through faith – and this, not from yourselves. It is the gift of God – not by our works, so no one can boast.” (Eoh. 2:8-9) Yes, amazing grace!
Now you would’ve thought this guy would’ve given massive thanks to his master and then worshipped God with thanks and praise for this enormous gift, but, no. What does he do? He, who’s just been forgiven a massive, unrepayable debt, goes out, sees a fellow slave who owes him just a small debt – 100 denarii. Now just to compare, this would be equivalent to maybe 3 or 4 month’s wages – still a lot, but with time, it’s doable to repay, not like the first guy who’d have to work lifetimes.
Instead of forgiving this man, as he’s just been forgiven, he grabs him by the throat and demands full repayment right now. When this slave fell to his knees and begged for mercy, promising to repay, the forgiven man shows no mercy. Instead of grace, he has this man prosecuted to the full extend of the law. Shame on him!
Needless to say, when the other slaves saw what happened, they went to the king and told him what happened. Slave #1 was held to full account. And when we consider what happened to him, what do you think? Was it well deserved or does it feel like the “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” God of the OT is at it again?
We might think, well, slave #2 did have it coming – he owed #1 money and it was legally right that #1 could go and demand it and #2 should pay up. And we might think forgiving a debt, no matter how large or how small, nice as it would be, esp. if we’re the ones owing the money, isn’t right or realistic in today’s world or economy.
But, as we’ve seen many times, Jesus never went by the world’s rules. He went by God’s rules – and that means have love and compassion for others. Forgive and show them mercy and grace. And here’s the clincher – no matter what. That doesn’t mean we should set ourselves up to get hurt or be taken advantage of again and again, but it does mean, that by faith, we should forgive and offer grace whenever we can. Tough job, but by faith, we can!
Yes, I know the story doesn’t end well for slave #1, but even though forgiveness and grace are the preferred options, people still need to be held accountable for the wrong they do. And if one doesn’t forgive as they’ve been forgiven, consequences need to be paid. Hopefully #1 remembers the freedom he felt when the king forgave him and showered him with grace so that he can repent and offer #2 the same gift.
And, yes, I know that we often think when someone has wronged us or maybe owes us some unpaid debt, they really don’t deserve forgiveness and grace; that they need to get what’s coming to them. But I know from experience, that even when they don’t deserve forgiveness and I offer it, the blessing comes back to me. It’s like the Holy Spirit frees me from all my hard feelings I had for that person. It’s like I can let go and let God. Maybe that’s what grace upon grace is all about. It’s so cool!
I hope and pray I’ll never owe anyone 10,000 talents. But if I do, I pray I have a master like Jesus tells about in this story. And by faith in the grace of God, I know I do. It’s like what A. W. Pink, English Bible teacher (1886-1957) describes: “I am a 10.000 talents debtor to God and have not a penny with which to discharge it, and therefore unless His sovereign grace takes pity upon me and gives me everything for nothing there is no hope whatever for me.”
By faith in God, let’s follow Jesus’ teaching in this story, choosing to forgive, and let the Spirit shower us with grace. Paul shares helpful advice from Col. 3:12-17: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe your-selves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” May the Holy Spirit guide us as we live this life by faith in Jesus to forgive as we’ve been forgiven through God’s grace. Thanks be to God. Amen.