CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL ON YOUTUBE
Matthew 18:28-35
As Jesus teaches His disciples about forgiveness, He has begun a parable of forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-27 in which a man owed a large amount of money to his master (ten thousand talents. One talent = aprox. 100lbs = aprox. $5,760,000); this man owed 10,000 times this amount – an amount that could never be paid in full). But he was forgiven by his master as his master showed compassion for him.
In Matthew 18:28-34 Jesus teaches in the second half of the parable that this same man who was forgiven a debt that could never have been paid in full, then went to a man who owed him a small amount of money (a hundred denarii = $32 or possibly in the day = a day’s wage. A denarii is also referred to as a penny. The point is that a denarii is a small amount of money that could easily be paid given time). But this man who had just been forgiven an amount that he could never pay, is now punishing a man who owes him a small amount that is much less than that of which he himself owed and was forgiven.
In Matthew 18:32-34 Jesus teaches the third part of this parable as the first man’s master became aware of how the man in which he had forgiven had thrown another man in prison for owing him a small amount, much less than that of which he himself had owed. We must also recognize and understand that this man had the man who owed him a small amount of money thrown into prison; he bypassed selling him into servanthood until the amount could be paid – he took the more strict method of having the man imprisoned. The reality of his wicked attitude is made clear in Matthew 18:32-35 (NKJV) stating, “Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘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?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.”
The moral of the parable is, as Jesus states in Matthew 18:35, “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
This is the heavenly view of forgiving others, as God is forgiving of all who will ask with a sincere, repentant heart – we too should be forgiving of others.
This is the reality, realization, and understanding of the penalty in heaven for all who refuse to forgive others.
This lesson speaks for itself; Jesus did not sugar-coat His teachings, but He did explain them very well, leaving no question as to the required result for those who wish to follow Him. The only question is whether we will accept His teaching – as it is – into our lives and break our hardened hearts to the forgiveness of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Dear LORD,
We are quick to ask forgiveness when it is us who are at fault, but we are quick to hold a grudge and expect condemnation when it is someone else who is at fault – especially when we have been wronged by someone. Please help us to put aside our earthly sinful nature and put on a new life in Christ Jesus. Please help us to exhibit the forgiveness of Jesus, as You forgive us through His actions, that we too would forgive others so that we may be truly Your children – in Christ Jesus. In Jesus name I pray, amen.