“To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and discover that the prisoner was you.”—Lewis B. Smedes
I was tasked recently to prepare a Bible study for youth about forgiveness. Immediately, I thought about the the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18:21-35. But having to prepare a Bible study about it, forced me to look at it in a different way.
I started giving it a fresh look. Read through it various of times. I studied the context and the illustrations that it shows. I prayed about it. And the more I prayed, the more I discovered.
When I thought I was done with the study, I didn’t submit it. I was doubting if I was really completed with the study. Then the next morning, on my way to work, the song “Forgiveness” from Matthew West started playing in the radio. I don’t believe this was a coincidence. I needed to remind my youth group about this song and the whole message behind it. But before continuing, let’s look at the parable in Matthew 18:21-35:
21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him.25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
29“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
30“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Forgiveness is a choice, many times, a hard choice. It is very clear in this parable that forgiveness is not a recommendation. We have been given forgiveness out of love and grace, and many times we insist in harboring feelings of bitterness and grudges when we are wronged. Many times this forgiveness is misinterpreted by many, who forget the way they were forgiven and thus they pursue judgment out of pride. Many insist in accusation, in separation.
When we start looking at forgiveness as something reserved for a few, as an option, as a “pie” to eat with only a selected group…we start losing perspective. We start copying that unmerciful servant. This behavior is damaging not only to the person who doesn’t forgive; but to the church’s mission (as a collective) as well.
Forgiveness affect the way we pray…To realize this just look at the Lord’s Prayer as a model to follow in Luke 11:1-4; in particular verse 4: “and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” If forgiveness affects the way we pray…our communication with the One who forgave us…that intimate relationship that the Lord wants to build with us gets damaged. When this happens the Church starts losing its intended meaning and starts becoming more a like structure, a building, a bunch of moral values and conditions, one more religion.
In Antioch,the first Christians were called Christians because of what they preached and do. They followed Christ and thus emulated Christ and lived as per Jesus’ revelation. By following Christ, many were transformed, they were inspired. Somehow, down the road…I guess many decided to hear more than to be doers:
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)
In Luke 6:46-49, Jesus said:
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
So, going back to forgiveness…forgiveness is about obedience to the Lord and about sharing that gift of forgiveness that we ourselves received from Lord by His grace. Do not constrict the Spirit. Put yourself in the hands of the One who can do wonders in you and transform those areas within you that you may think are impossible to break free.
Let the glory of His knowledge shine on you. Forgive; it’s time to heal.
P.S. Link of the Matthew West’s song, “Forgiveness” here.