:: FORGIVENESS ::

FORGIVENESS

By Nelson Thomas Mumbai

We live in a polarized world. Look around and notice the animosity prevailing among various people groups and communities. Even people of similar ideologies and lifestyles find it difficult to stay together. Instead of living peacefully in harmony, they fight against each other. Often, the so-called leaders subtly promote aggression, not reconciliation.

Sadly, this mindset of the society is reflected among the people of God too. An unforgiving, aggressive attitude is destroying relationships. Personal preferences and differences are shown out of proportion, leading to perpetual enmity. Many find it difficult to forgive the failures and wrongdoings of their fellow believers.

The startling fact is that even the spiritual leadership prefers to turn a blind eye to this resentment and ill-feelings found among Christians.

In the parable of the Unforgiving Servant, the Lord Jesus underlines the power of forgiveness and the consequences of an unforgiving attitude (Matthew 18: 21 – 35).

Peter’s Doubt

The immediate context of this passage is a query of the Apostle Peter. It may be prompted by Christ’s instructions on the local assembly discipline and the way to mend broken relationships. Peter wanted to know if it was enough to forgive the erring brother seven times unlike the three times set by the Pharisees (Matt. 18: 15, 21). The Lord’s answer was surprising, “I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven”.

It does not mean that we should count the wrongdoings of others up to 490 times and then retaliate! Rather, there should be no limit to our love and forgiveness for one another. That is the way God loved us and forgave all our sins (Eph. 3: 17 – 19; 4:32; Col. 3:13).

To prove His point, the Lord spoke this parable of the compassionate king and the unforgiving servant. Bear in mind, the thrust of the parable is not God’s forgiveness to a sinner, but forgiveness among the children of God. Let us consider seven lessons on forgiveness from this parable.

Never forget the enormity of our bankruptcy and helplessness before God.

The ten thousand talent debt to the king was a huge amount. King Solomon’s annual income was 666 talents of gold (2Chro. 9:13). So, whether it was gold or silver, his debt was an unpayable amount, in spite of his claim being otherwise (Matt. 18: 21 - 26).

This precisely was even our state before God. We could never please God nor be justified by our efforts before Him, so vast and deep were our sins. Born with a sinful nature from our mother’s womb, each of us were wretched sinners in and out; not only in our actions but even in attitude and imaginations (Gen. 6:5; Psa. 51:5; Rom. 3: 9 - 23). This is the poverty Christ referred to in His beatitudes, which everyone should acknowledge before being saved and blessed (Matt 5:3).

A true born-again Christian will always remember his terrible past. Listen to what apostle Paul says about himself,

“…I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man: but I obtained mercy…... Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief.” (1Tim. 1: 13 – 15)

“I am the least of all apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle….” (1Cor. 15:9)

“I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh”. “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:18a, 24)

Never forget the riches of God’s grace and compassion.

It was really amazing that the king who “ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made” was moved with compassion at his helplessness. Not only was he released from imprisonment, but all his debt was also forgiven (Matt. 18: 25 – 27).

This is what God does for every repentant sinner. On the basis of the atoning sacrifice of His Son, God the Father forgives and cleanses us from all our sins (1 John 1:9). Paul says it is because of the riches of God’s grace and mercy (Eph. 1: 7; 2: 7). We should never lose sight of this wonderful work of redemption and all those glorious truths connected to it.

Failure to remember both the above truths makes one arrogant and hard.

The response of the forgiven servant to his fellow servant teaches us of the danger of forgetting our past as well as God’s incomparable compassion towards us.

Though a hundred denarii was not a small amount in those days, compared to the huge debt the king forgave, it was insignificant. However, the forgiven servant immediately caught him by the throat and began to choke him. Without paying any attention to his plea for mercy, the first servant put his debtor in jail (Matt. 18: 28 – 30).

This vividly depicts the attitude of a believer who forgets his own poor, wretched past and also God’s gracious interventions in such situations. Such a mindset leads to a number of wrong attitudes.

a. Ingratitude

b. Pride

c. A hardened heart

d. Thoughtlessness

e. Lovelessness

f. An unforgiving spirit

Notice the far-reaching consequences of a Christian’s forgetfulness. The consciousness of our worthless past and the vast, unmeasured love of Christ makes one thankful and humble (cf. Luke 7: 43, 47; Rom. 2: 4).

Our failure to bear with the erring ones and relate with them kindly shows that we are not different from this unforgiving servant. Then, we too are filled with all the above-mentioned evil attitudes.

God’s people ought to sorrow over the unforgiving attitude and actions of a fellow believer.

The fellow servants of the unforgiving servant were pained at his conduct and informed the matter to the King (Matt. 18: 31).

Such should be the response of God’s people towards a Christian's unkind, unloving activities. Seeing the bitter, hardened heart of a child of God, our heart must be grieved and present the same at the throne of grace for their enlightenment.

But alas, as mentioned earlier many prefer to keep quiet and refuse to intervene. And as a result, egotism is encouraged and bitterness spreads, affecting many more, ultimately defiling the name of the Lord (cf. 1 Cor. 5: 2).

Believers’ failure to forgive their offending brethren is a serious issue.

Notice his master’s response to the unforgiving servant. “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?” (Matt 18: 32 - 34).

How seriously the master looks at the merciless action of the forgiven servant! With all humility and gratitude, he should have shown kindness to his fellow servant, just as his master did for him.

In verse 35 our Lord states the main lesson,

“So, My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” (Matt. 18:35)

Without mincing any words Christ made it very clear, the unforgiving attitude of a believer is a serious offence. God will not take it lightly; the Fathers’ chastening hands will fall upon such believers.

Apostle Paul exhorts:

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32)

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint one another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” (Colo. 3:13)

Every born-again child of God is indebted to show the same love and compassion towards one another for three reasons:

a. Reciprocating the favour we enjoyed from the Lord (Matt. 18: 32, 33).

b. Following the path of our Lord as His faithful disciple (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60).

c. Living out a Christ-like life as He is indwelling in us (Gal. 2:20; 1 John 2:6).

Notice, how much a Christian is obligated to mercifully deal with the fallen ones (cf. 1 John 4:11; Matt. 6:12; Luke 6:36).

As in the case of any sin, a believer who habitually lives with an unforgiving spirit and hostile attitude manifests deliberate rebellion or evidence of false conversion.

An unforgiving person by his own attitude ends up in imprisonment.

According to the parable the master in his anger delivered the servant to jailers until he paid all the debt (Matt. 18: 34).

Does it mean refusal to forgive will result in the loss of our salvation? Will the Lord cancel the forgiveness of our sins because we failed to forgive?

Based on other passages of the New Testament we understand that God forgives and saves us in His grace through the Lord Jesus Christ and sustains also by His grace (Titus 2: 11, 12). He delivers us from the bondage of sins once and for all and has already seated us in heavenly places. Thus, our salvation is sure and secured (cf. John 10:28; Rom. 5:10; 8:1, 31 – 39; Eph. 1: 13; 2:6; Heb. 10:14, etc.).

However, the lesson that we can draw from here is, unforgiving believers will face the chastening hand of God. Apart from that, they would be tormented by a variety of thoughts and moods, for which they alone are responsible.

Such believers will not enjoy true Christian life and freedom in Christ. Their grievances and contentions will never stop. They will blame others and even the circumstances for all their troubles, but never realize their own role in it.

It is not enough to receive God’s forgiveness but we ought to experience it in our hearts.

The final lesson from this parable is, how important it is to experience and enjoy our position and privileges in Christ. Many who claim to have been born again still harbour resentment and anger within them. It may be against themselves or someone else.

But finding pleasure in licking the old wounds is not appropriate for one who claims to have been regenerated and has all things become new (2Cor. 5: 17). If our Christian life does not affect our practical life, it’s just a ritualistic religious life which is only a façade, without any reality.

One of the major aspects of the present work of God is the ministry of reconciliation through Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5: 18, 19). If God who has all the right to punish sinful man, chose not to impute their sin unto themselves but declared them innocent in Christ, how can we harbour hostility against anyone? Any believer who experiences God’s wonderful work of salvation will gladly show mercy to one another.

Whether in the family, assembly, or workplace, it’s very much essential to bear with people. For none of us is perfect, so we all fail in one way or another. Let us learn to forgive, forget the past, and move forward. Is it, not our blessed privilege to enjoy God’s forgiveness and pass on the same to others around us?

Conclusion:

The true Christian’s life is always a joyful, free, and satisfied life. He is conscious of the indwelling Holy Spirit within and hence leads an obedient, holy life. Such believers are empowered by the Spirit of God to manifest divine qualities like love, compassion, forbearance, etc.

Do you really experience and enjoy the riches of God’s mercy and grace? Can you forgive the one who hurts you, from the depth of your heart?

NTK