The power of God’s forgiveness in action!
Welcome to “Word from The Center” MONDAY, a devotional word from the Center of our faith, Jesus Christ, with reflections on His Word. I’m Gregory Seltz. Today’s verses are Matthew 18:21-22 which says,
[21] Then Peter came up and said to [Jesus], “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” [22] Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
C.S. Lewis said, “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until there is something (and I would add, someone) to forgive.” [1] Actually, forgiveness doesn’t even seem to be a “lovely idea” anymore. Resentment, revenge, retribution, and “gettin’ mine” seem to be the prevalent ideas of the day. Forgiveness? Who needs it? Maybe that’s the real issue. I really believe that at the root of many of our modern maladies lies the false bravado that 21st century people don’t need forgiveness anymore. And, as a result, they don’t much care to share it either. It may well be out of vogue because nobody seems to believe in sin either. Well, our text for today sets us straight, and makes a bold offer anew.
Let’s start with Peter. He was a person much like you and me. He wanted in on the things of Jesus, but he wanted such things on his terms. Now, better than many of us, Peter at least seems to take his sin seriously. When he came to Jesus, he asked, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” From a human point of view, Peter takes sin and forgiveness very seriously, and he is willing to go the extra mile to share it. I mean, who would forgive someone seven times? If they wronged you once, forgiveness almost makes sense; after all, it’s better not to wallow in resentment and pain. If they wrong you two times, forgiveness demonstrates your willingness to go the extra mile. If they wrong you three times and you forgive, you demonstrate that you are a person of virtue, one whose heart is greater than your emotions. Peter was willing to go to the absolute limit of seven times! That’s pretty good stuff compared to most people. But if you forgive again and again and again, isn’t that a sign of weakness?
After his reply to Peter, Jesus tells a story about two men (see Matthew 18:23-35). One owed a tremendous debt to a king. In modern terms, let’s say it was ten million dollars and he had no way to repay it. He begs for mercy from the king and the king FORGAVE his entire debt and set him free. How would you feel if you had a $10,000,000 debt forgiven? Then what would you do with a person who owed you $100? Jesus said that this man left the king and met a person who owed him a much smaller debt; this amount of money could have been paid back or, better, “forgiven” as he had just been forgiven. But in the story the forgiven man had the other man thrown into debtors’ prison until the debt was repaid. That angered the king who harshly judged the unmerciful, thankless person in the end.
What is the point? Your sins and mine are a huge problem in our relationship with God and with each another. Our crushing debt comes from our sins of pride, lust, sloth, vanity, selfishness, anger, and so on. These drive us away from the God who loves us and apart from each other. Through His parable, Jesus tries to set Peter straight about how forgiven he really is. In response, Jesus calls for Peter to put that forgiveness to work in and through His life for others. Forgiveness received as a gift remains alive in us as we share that gift with others in Christ’s name. But forgiveness hoarded or denied to others, contrary to the way in which God makes it available to us, eventually causes it to die in our lives as well (see Matthew 6:14-15). Jesus doesn’t want Peter to miss out on what only He can give, forgiveness for the crushing debt of his sin because of Jesus’ merciful life, death, and resurrection for all.
If Jesus won’t limit His forgiveness toward you to seven times, then don’t let anything get in the way of sharing it with those who ask for it from you. If you are having trouble forgiving someone at the moment, reflect on how completely forgiven you are in Christ. Then try to speak your own forgiving words to them with gentleness and humility. Trust in the power of Jesus’ forgiveness to you to flow through you to others. There’s nothing else like it in this world!
PRAYER: – Dear Lord Jesus, please help me to see how You sustain my relationship with You. Let me see the depth of your mercy and grace to me. Let me see the wisdom of your word to me. Then guide me in my relationships with others to be the best friend, spouse, parent or whatever I can be as a reflection of the love and grace I’ve received from You. AMEN.
[1] C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book III, Chapter 7.
