Friday Sundown Worship
Memory Verse: Forgive and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37
Study Text: Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying ‘Master, Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat saying, Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So 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 threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 So My Heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother he trespasses. Matthew 18:21-35
Peter in his assumed role as spokesman for the disciples, Peter often took the initiative in replying to question, asking questions of his own or proposing a course of action
This entire chapter is dedicated to how a Christian should treat his or her fellow Christian brother or sister in Christ.
Peter being the spokes person asked of Jesus, how many times should we forgive another person. Peter based his number of asking for forgiveness 7 times by taking the number of times Pharisees stated that forgiveness should be granted to another and then adding to it a few more, because Jesus was always expanding upon the law.
So, it has been suggested by some that the rabbis limited the times one should forgive another to three. This was based on the wrong interpretation of Amos 1:3.
Here in Amos the prophet says, “Thus says the LORD: ‘For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with implements of Iron,’”
The original statement in Amos was to show that God will extend his mercy beyond what we can comprehend, but there comes a time when even God limits his mercy upon those who do not deserve it.
Jesus response to Peter and the other disciples was to state: “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy time seven.” Jesus was telling the disciples that when it comes to us forgiving each other, our forgiveness should be limitless.
The reason why is explained in the story Jesus told about a king who was reviewing those that owed him money.
There are two units or types of money mentioned in this story. There is also two servants that are mentioned.
The first unit of money is 10,000 Talents which the first servant owed.
The second servant only owed 100 denarii.
A Denarii is equal to one day’s wage. At minimum wage that would be equal to about $50.00 today.
The second servant owed $5000.00. To pay this debt off he would have to work for 100 days giving all he made to the one he owned. Over time, it could be paid off in less than a year. It was not a significant debt when compared to the first servant who owed 10,000 Talents.
10,000 talents would be worth several millions of dollars and there was no way this servant over his lifetime could ever pay off a debt so large.
Yet when the servant asks to be forgiven his unpayable debt the king takes mercy upon him and forgives him his debt. He is free to go, he himself and his entire family.
But when the first servant sees the second who owes such a small debt in comparison to what was forgive by the king, the first servant deals harshly having him thrown in prison until such time as the debt could be paid off.
When the king hears that his servant would not forgive of such a small debt which was owed to him, takes back the forgiveness granted to the first servant.
When Adam and Eve sinned when each of us sin, we create an unpayable debt which Adam, Eve or you and me could never repay no matter how hard we work. Yet Jesus, by dying on the cross paid that debt for us.
Since our debt is paid in full, forgiven as though it never happened by the sacrifice of Christ (Jesus) being crucified upon the cross, then who are we to not forgive those around us that sin against us. There debt owed us is small compared to our debt to God and since God showed us Mercy and forgave you and me, should we not show the same kindness and mercy by forgiving those that have wronged us.
This was the point Jesus was trying to make by answering Peters question. Although God’s Mercy is extended beyond what we can comprehend, it will eventually come to an end, yet because of God Sacrifice the mercy we show to each should never end.
The Bible In Your Hand 