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Parables of Forgiveness

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr

Passage: Matthew 18:21-35, Luke 7:36-50

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TEACHINGS OF Jesus (40)

Today we continue our study of the teachings of Jesus.  We are in the midst of examining some of the parables Jesus taught.  This month we notice a handful more and then we will proceed with some other areas of teaching in coming months.

In this lesson we want to notice 2 parables, both dealing with forgiveness.   From time to time, we discuss the importance of forgiveness.  We know that it is crucial to our salvation – both receiving it AND a wiliness to forgive others.  We have addressed this in the sermon on the mount where Jesus taught about prayer (Matthew 6:14-15), and even in the last parable we addressed (the prodigal son), we touched on the subject of forgiveness, especially how the older son refused to be merciful toward his wayward brother who had returned.  Colossians 3:12 calls for us as the elect of God to put on tender mercies, kindness, humility,… and forgiving one another, even as Christ has forgiven us.   We could devote several lessons and passages to this important subject, but today we will focus on the messages found the parables of Jesus.

 

1. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant – Matthew 18:21-35
   1. Background –
      1. Jesus has been addressing how we are to deal with our brethren, especially when they have sinned against us.
         1. Warnings to not cause others to stumble – Matthew 18:1-11
         2. We have Matthew’s version of the parable of the lost sheep – Matthew 18:12-14
         3. Then we have instructions on going to our brother who has sinned (against us) – this is where we find the process of dealing with one who has sinned against us.
      2. In .vs 21 – Peter inquires as to how often he should forgive one who has sinned against him – he says, “Up to 7 times”.
         1. Understanding Jewish tradition this was generous. Sources reveal that Jews expected you to forgive someone 3 times.
         2. Jesus replies, “Up to seventy times seven” (some translate it as 77 times). This is a substantially larger number than even that of Peter.
         3. AND, I believe it is crucial that we not set a hard number at 490 times. The point is you keep on forgiving over and over, as much as is needed.
         4. Jesus then presents a parable that bears this out.
      3. The parable of the unforgiving servant
         1. The kingdom of heaven is like – Jesus is here describing qualities that will grant admission into this kingdom.
         2. A certain king wanting to settle accounts with his servants – in this be reminded that there is coming a day of judgment when we WILL be held accountable (Acts 17:30-31, Romans 14:10-12)
         3. A servant brought before him who owed 10,000 talents – Jesus was presenting a ridiculously large number. A talent (depending on what the talent was of) was the largest unit of weight for money – about 75 pounds.  Depending on the product, it would equal between 3000 and 6000 denarius.  (Which one doesn’t matter, the point is the number was HUGE!).   A denarius was considered a day’s wages.  So a single talent would be the equivalent of 3000 days labor between 8-17 years (working every day).  Multiply that by 10,000 and you have a number that goes into the billions (IF minimum wage were $15 per hour at 8 hours a day would be about $120.  Multiply by 3000 – $360,000 X 10,000 = $3.6 BILLION! That is the LOW number).
            The point – The number was ridiculous and impossible to pay back.
         4. The master commanded the servant be sold, along with his family so that payment could be made – the Roman empire was a time with debtor’s prison – where one could have a debtor imprisoned and sentenced to hard labor until they repaid the debt – which might be impossible to do. (Imagine if this still applied today)
         5. The servant fell before the king and pleaded for mercy – time and patience to repay the debt.
         6. The king being moved with compassion, released him and FORGAVE him of his debt – the king went further than was requested. This was because of his compassion and mercy (this was an act of grace on his part).
         7. In turn, the servant went out and found a fellow servant who owed him 100 denarii – just under a 1/3 of a year’s wages – substantial, but NOTHING compared to what he had been forgiven.
         8. The unmerciful servant grabs his fellow servant by the throat and demands his money.
         9. The fellow servant pleads for mercy and time and promises to repay – a debt that WAS repayable.
         10. BUT the unmerciful servant rejected him and had him cast into debtor’s prison – amounts did not matter when it came to debtor’s prison.
         11. His fellow servants saw how unloving he was and were grieved – all I can say here is, PEOPLE ARE WATCHING US!
         12. They went and told the king (master) what had happened – word WILL get back, especially to God. You CANNOT hide from Him!  (Psalm 139:7-12, Hebrews 4:13)
         13. The king became angry and called that unmerciful servant before him and rebuked him for being unmerciful considering all that he had been forgiven of.
         14. That servant was delivered to the torturers until he should pay all that he owed.
      4. VS.35 – The lesson – So My heavenly Father also will do to you, if each of you, from his heard, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.
   2. Lessons to learn from this parable
      1. The terribleness of sin – sin is such a terrible debt that we can NEVER repay it. Consider Romans 6:23 – the WAGES of sin is death.  Romans 7:14 notes that I am carnal, sold under sin…
         That is the premise of the 10,000 talents – we are so indebted to God because of our sins.
      2. God is gracious and merciful – Ephesians 2:4-5.
         He so loved us He sent Jesus as the sacrifice to pay the debt – John 3:16, Romans 5:6-9.
         2 Corinthians 5:21 notes that God made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us – not that He became a sinner, but He paid the price that was demanded (see 1 Peter 3:18 – He suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God…)
      3. By His grace we are forgiven of our sins – see all the above verses.
      4. THEREFORE, we better be willing to forgive others –
         1. God expects us to be grateful for His forgiveness and to SHOW that gratitude in the way we deal with others, especially forgiving those who have wronged us or sinned against us.
         2. While difficult to do, we have to learn to forgive others – even over and over (7 times a day – Luke 17:4). Just like God forgives us over and over.
         3. And our salvation depends on it as Jesus concluded. James 2:13 tells us that judgment is without mercy to him who shows no mercy.
2. The parable of two debtors – Luke 7:36-50
   1. Background –
      1. Jesus is invited by a Pharisee to eat with him at his home.
      2. As Jesus sat down to eat, a woman of the city, “a sinner”, knew that Jesus was there. She brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet weeping.  She washed His feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.  Then she anointed His feet with the oil
      3. Simon, spoke within himself saying, “If this Man was a prophet, He would know who and what manner of woman she was (a sinner).”
      4. This prompts Jesus to tell our short parable.
   2. The parable (Luke 7:40-42)
      1. There was a certain creditor who had two debtors (recall the debtors of the last parable)
      2. One owed 500 denarii (about 1 ½ years wages) and the other 50 denarii.
      3. They could not repay so he forgave BOTH freely.
      4. Jesus asked, “Which one would love Him more?”
      5. Simon said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”
   3. Jesus replied: (7:43-50)
      1. You have answered correctly or rightly judged.
      2. Jesus then rebuked Simon noting that as He entered the home he was not shown common hospitality – no water for his feet, no welcoming kiss, nor anointing.
      3. Yet “this woman” (whom Simon called a sinner), had shown humiliating service to Him – washing his feet with her tears and anointing His feet with the oil.
      4. Vs. 47 – Therefore, I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much.
         BUT, to whom little is forgiven, he loves little.
      5. Jesus sent her away, a forgiven woman and said, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
      6. Those who were there wondered because Jesus even forgave sins. Another lesson.
3. Lessons to consider:
   1. Again, we are reminded of the terribleness of sin! Let us suppose this woman was “a sinner” – one guilty of detestable sins, such as prostitution and such.
   2. In this parable, we also see that no matter WHAT sins you are guilty of God CAN forgive you if you will repent and turn to Him. A great example of this is Paul – who knew what a sinner he was.  He noted in 1 Timothy 1:15 he was “chief” of sinners.
      1 Corinthians 15:9-10 Paul noted that he was not worthy to be called an apostle.
      THIS ought to be a source of comfort to us! How often do we have more difficulty forgiving ourselves that letting God forgive us?
   3. And along with that, we must ask – WHO IS THE SINNER in this parable? Certainly the woman was a sinner for Jesus in the end said, “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven” (vs. 47)
      I contend the Pharisee, was also a sinner, though his sins were different (and more socially acceptable), they were sins nonetheless.  AND more dangerous because he seemed to be blind to his need for forgiveness.  That is the continual thread we find in the New Testament with the enemies of Jesus and His disciples: Self-righteousness, pride, hypocrisy, etc.
   4. We also learn in this parable that we better be careful before passing judgment on others! Matthew 7:1-5 – this is where this DOES apply!
   5. And YES, Jesus can and does forgive us of our sins! In fact, He is the ONLY source of salvation – Acts 4:12.
   6. Finally, HOW grateful are we that God has forgiven us? BOTH parables deal with flawed attitudes toward forgiveness. Let us make sure that we truly appreciate the grace of God – because we ALL desperately need it!

And thus we can see some lessons to learn about forgiveness from the teachings of Jesus.  It is a subject we MUST learn if we are to have hope of heaven when this life is over.  So what about you?  1) Have you been forgiven? 2) How are you forgiving others? Think about it!