Please turn with me to Matthew 18.  This morning we’re moving forward in our look at Jesus’ teaching about the Kingdom of God.  What it means for us to live subject to the reign and movement of the sovereign God within His universe.  We’ve been looking at the parables - the illustrations - Jesus shared that gave Jesus opportunities to explain in more detail about the Kingdom of God.  This morning we’ve come to Matthew 18 and the parable of The Merciful Master.

Jesus and the disciples are in Capernaum - up on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.  Jesus is teaching about relationships.  While He’s teaching, Peter asks a question.  Matthew 18 - verse 21:  Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?”  Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

If you had to put together a Top Ten List of Irritations, what would be on it?

Way back when there was man who rode into town to pick up his mail order bride from the railroad station.  On the way back to the farm - they’re riding along in the wagon - the bride - the groom - and the mule pulling the wagon stops.

The man gets out.  Gives the mule a swift kick - yells at it, “That’s once.”  The mule moves on.  After a while the mule stops again.  The man gets out.  Kick’s the mule.  Yells at it, “That’s twice.”  They go on.

The mule stops a third time.  The man gets down.  Takes his rifle and shoots the mule dead.  At which point his bride starts to yell at him, “What did you do that for?  That’s the only mule we’ve got to pull the wagon.”  The man looks at her and says, “That’s once.”  Have you heard that?

Jesus’ answer is off the chart.  490 times.  Its a joke.  Sarcasm.  “Gee Peter, you’re really a forgiving type of guy.”  There might be some who would keep track, “489...490… BAM.”  But its not the number of times we’re suppose to forgive that’s important.  Otherwise we’d all be bean counters.  Jesus’ point is, why forgive at all?  “If that’s your attitude, Peter, why forgive your brother at all?” 

Remember that question.  It’s the point of the whole parable.  Ask that with me, “Why forgive at all?”

Verse 23:  “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.  When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.  But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.  So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’  And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.”

Let’s pause here and make some observations.

First:  10,000 talents is equivalent to millions - perhaps a billion dollars in today’s money.  Point being that this slave and his family - sold along with all that they owned - even in their wildest dreams - they couldn’t even begin to pay this amount.  Its an insurmountable debt - impossible to pay.

Second observation:  What this slave is confronted with - because of this unpayable debt - is bondage for the rest of his life.  “Without possibility of reprieve or parole you’ll be taken from this place to the dilithium mines on the penal asteroid of Rura Penthe.  There to spend the rest of your natural lives.”

Third:  There’s no way out.  There’s no hope.  Which is why the slave throws himself at the feet of his lord and pleads for the opportunity to pay the debt - even though both the lord and slave know its impossible.

Fourth:  The compassion of the lord - not only releasing the slave from bondage - but forgiving him.  There’s no more indebtedness.  The debt has been cancelled by the only one who could’ve cancelled it.  And, its no longer even an issue in their relationship.

We need to see ourselves here if we’re going to understand Jesus’ point.  Our debt before God comes through sin - being born into the sinful and fallen race of mankind.  Our debt comes through the offenses we commit against God.  Our willful choices to disobey Him.  Our thoughts.  Our actions.  Each of us has an insurmountable debt before God.  A debt that we cannot pay.  Each of us faces a hopeless future.

But the good news of the Gospel is that God - what?  pays our debt.  Through the shed blood and broken body of Jesus Christ our debt is paid - cancelled - wiped away - forgiven.  Unbelievably forgiven.

Verse 28:  “But the slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’  So his fellow slave fell to ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’  But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.

Let’s pause here and make some observations.

First:  100 denarii is about $20 or about 100 days of labor.  Point being that its not a huge sum of money.  In contrast to the insurmountable debt this debt is very doable.  It could be paid.

Second:  Slave #1 - who was forgiven the insurmountable debt goes out of his way to find his fellow slave.  He’s looking for him.  When he finds his fellow slave he grabs him by the throat and starts to choke him.  Point being that he’s violent - angry - callous to the condition of his fellow slave.  There’s a serious heart attitude issue here.

Third:  Slave #2 uses the exact words as slave #1 to plead for patience.  “Be patient with me.”  In Greek the word is “makrothumia”  “Mackro” meaning “far off in the distance”.  “Thumia” meaning “hot” - “passionate.”  Literally, “Please take a long time until you get hot and passionate towards me with your wrath.”   “Hang in there with me till I can pay you.”  “Makrothumia” is the same word Peter uses in 2 Peter 3:9 to describe God’s patience with us:  “The Lord… is patient - makrothumia - toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

Point being - Jesus is making a sad contrast between the patience of the lord towards slave #1 - and us - and the lack of patience between slave #1 and his fellow slave.

We need to see ourselves here if we’re going to understand Jesus’ point.  We struggle with this contrast every day of our lives.  There’s a continual tension in our lives that Jesus is pointing to. 

We continue in sin.  We’re forgiven.  But, we go on sinning.  Despite our relationship with God - our growth and development as Christians.  Despite all that God makes available to us for life - even the working and power of the Holy Spirit within - we sin.  Again and again we have to come back to God - agree with Him that we sin - ask again for His forgiveness.  Again thank Him that He does forgive us.  That’s the first part of the parable.

But then there’s this immediacy between the scene with the lord and slave #1 and the scene with slaves #1 and #2.  Boom - boom - one comes right after the other - an immediate contrast.  There’s a connection between the two.

When someone offends us - irritates us - wrongs us - even though we know God’s forgiveness - let’s be honest - we struggle to forgive.  And most of the time, we don’t.

Verse 31:  “So when his - slave #1’s - fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.  Then summoning him - slave #1 - his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’”  

Some observations.

First:  The whole basis and example of forgiveness originates with the lord.  The lord sets the standard of what forgiveness is all about.

Second:  The lord makes it possible for slave #1 to forgive slave #2.  His debts been forgiven.  He doesn’t need to raise money.  He has no need to protect his investments and demand his rights.  He owes nothing.  So he’s free to forgive his fellow slave.

Third observation:  There’s an expectation by the lord that slave #1 - having been forgiven - will also forgive slave #2 - and anyone else who owes him money.  “Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?”  Answer:  Of Course.  

Remember the question Jesus asked Peter?  Why forgive at all?  Answer number one:  Because God forgives us.  Say that with me, “Because God forgives us.”

A while ago, Karen and I attended a Christian Life and Witnessing Class for a local Billy Graham crusade.  The point of the class was to prepare us to share our faith with others at the crusade - the Gospel - God’s forgiveness of sin - His mercy and grace. 

It was not a good time for me to go.  I could have thought of a number of reasons to stay home.  It was raining.  I had just been to the eye doctor and my eyes were dilated.  I couldn’t really focus on anything - and my head hurt.  I was tired.  I had a lot of stuff to do.  Been there?

But we went.  And there was a traffic jam on the freeway so I took a shortcut and then had to follow the world’s slowest driver.  So, of course we were late.  And, the place was packed.

So we headed up to the balcony - which was packed.  There were two seats left.  One up front and one further back.  I sent Karen up front and sat down in the seat in back.  On my left was a wall - on my right, a seat covered with a coat - and then two girls.  At the time I thought they were reserving the seat between us for someone they knew.  That’s why the coat was there.

I had a great seat.  A nice hard wooden seat.  With all the heads in front of me I couldn’t see the speaker.  With my dilated eyes I couldn’t read my textbook.  And it was hot and stuffy.

You can imagine that at this point I was not exactly in the best of moods.  Just a tad irritated and starting to feel sorry for myself.

10 minutes into this exercise in patience an elderly couple came in - completely unrelated to these two girls that are sitting one seat over from me - who I thought were holding this seat for someone.  The lady sat on the other side of the two girls and the man sat next to me.  They moved their coat and he sat down.

Did I mention that it had been raining outside?  This man is wearing a large raincoat which he failed to take off - a large wet rain coat.

So now, I’m in a seat where I can’t see anything - crushed up against the wall, my right side is sopping wet - I’m hot - and I’m thinking that instead of this man I could be sitting with my wife.  This irritation inside is growing and this man - this “dear” brother in Christ  - is the focal point.  Been there?

It was just about at that point that the Holy Spirit reminded me about why I was at this Christian Life and Witnessing Class.  The part about Jesus dying to pay the penalty for my sins - God’s love and forgiveness for me - and this large wet drippy man sitting next to me.  Don’t you just love it when God does that?

This man is loved by the same God who loves me.  Forgiven by the same God who forgives me.  If God is so gracious to me how can I not extend some grace towards this man.

Being inconvenienced as I was at that class pales in comparison to some of the wrongs that many here have suffered - are suffering.  But, the bottom line expectation is still the same.  If we can understand the love of God for us - if God can love us - forgive us - treat us with such dignity and respect - shouldn’t we do this to others?  People whom God has loved - whom Jesus has died for.

There are times when we need to be reminded of that truth.  You may have come this morning with real anger towards someone - you may be seething inside at some thing that someone has said to you - or done to you - maybe even this morning.  Or, at work.  Or, here in the church.    A spouse.  A parent.  There’s anger that’s tied around your heart in a tight little knot.  There are some choice words you’d love to level at someone who’s wronged you.  We’ve all been there.

In Ephesians 4:32, Paul writes, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you

Our example - our motivation - is in the forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ - to forgive as God in Christ has forgiven us.  He forgave us before there was ever any sign of our turning towards Him.  He forgave us despite the hurt to Himself.

Hang on to this:  God desires to free us so that we can speak words of kindness - so that we can be tenderhearted to one another - so that we can forgive each other.

In Steve Saints book, "End of the Spear" - Steve Saint writes this:  “The Waodoni had been killing themselves into annihilation when my dad and his four friends tried to establish friendly contact with them.  As far as I can tell, the Waodani in those days had only a short list of generally accepted rules, most of them dealing with killing:  1) If someone does something you don’t like, ignore it; 2) If you can’t ignore it, kill the person; 3) If someone kills someone in your family, it is your right and duty to kill someone in that person’s family in retaliation; 4) It is best to kill everyone you can in the families of those you have vendettas against so there will be fewer of them to retaliate against your family.”  (1)

As primitive as the Waodoni were - in the Amazon basin of Ecuador - they sound a whole lot like modern society.  If someone does something to you - kill them.  Maybe not with a spear.  But, vengeance is your prerogative.  You deserve to hang on to your anger.

Even in the church.  All the problems in the church - the bitterness - the splits - the gossip - the distances we put between ourselves - the crude we do to each other - all of that can be summed up in one word.  Self.  The one word answer to all these issues, is God.

If our debt is cancelled - if we really - truly - believe that - then what are we hanging on to?  Why the anger?  Why the bitterness?  What keeps us from forgiving?  Self.

God says, “I forgave you all that you wronged Me with.  Let go of your prerogatives - you don’t need them anymore.  This isn’t about you.  Its about Me freeing you to forgive others.”

Verse 34:  “And his lord, moved with anger, handed him - slave #1 - over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.  My Heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

Why forgive at all?  Answer number two:  Because there are consequences if we don’t.  Say that with me, “Because there are consequences if we don’t.”

There are two ways of understanding what Jesus says here.  Both have merit.  The first understanding is that Jesus is talking about eternal consequences - eternal torture - hell fire and brimstone.  The point being that if we don’t forgive others it indicates that we really don’t understand God’s forgiveness of us.  Which means that we may never have come to the point of asking God for forgiveness.  Which means that we really aren’t saved - and so our destiny is eternal torment.

The second understanding of what Jesus says is that there are temporal consequences - stuff that happens to us right now - when we fail to forgive others.  Bitterness and harbored anger can have a profound negative impact on us - emotionally - psychologically - physically.  Not the person we fail to forgive - but us.  Right?

Both understandings focus on the same truth:  God honors our choice.  God is a gentleman.  He respects our decisions.  Honors our choices.  God will allow us to experience the natural consequences of our choices.  That’s what Jesus says in verse 34 - the lord “handed him over to the torturers.”  

Now, let’s be careful here.

Years ago - a lot of years ago - at the village church in Kalonovka, Russia, attendance at Sunday School picked up after the priest started handing out candy to the peasant children.  One of the most faithful was a pug-nosed, pugnacious child who recited Scriptures with proper piety, pocketed his reward, then fled into the fields to munch on it.

The priest took a liking to the boy and persuaded him to attend the church school.  Attending the church school was preferable to doing household chores from which his devout parents excused him.  By offering other inducements, the priest managed to teach the boy the four Gospels.  In fact, he won a special prize for learning all four by heart and reciting them nonstop in church.

Many years later, that boy - Nikita Khrushchev - continued to recite Scriptures - in a way that would horrify the old priest.  Nikita Khrushchev - who recited God’s Word when a child - later declared God to be nonexistent - because his cosmonauts had not seen Him in space. (2)

What Jesus is focusing on is not what we do.  Its why we do it.

We can do the right thing.  Say the words, “I forgive you.”  Even in deep sincerity, “I forgive you.”  Its what God requires of us - seventy times seven.  That’s where Peter was at.  489...490…  Thinking we’ve fulfilled all the requirements of living like a Christian - doing what God wants.  Like going down a spiritual checklist.  “Okay, I did that.”   A way to avoid unpleasant consequences.  Forgiving without really forgiving.

In verse 35, Jesus says that we’re to forgive our brother from our what?  hearts.  That means that forgiveness begins with a right understanding of God’s forgiveness of our own sin and extends to the depth of who are.  Because there are times when we cannot forgive.  But God can.

There are times when we must say to God, “You need to change my heart.  You need to work this out in me.  I give you control of my heart.  You have authority to do in me what must be done so that I can forgive.  Only by your power and the work of the Holy Spirit within can this be done.”

Why forgive at all?  First:  Because God forgives us.  Second:  Because there are consequences if we don’t.  Third:  There are consequences if we do.  Say that with me, “There are consequences if we do.”

Forgiveness is a life characteristic - a characteristic of the heart - of those live in the Kingdom of God.  We can’t help it.  Living in God’s forgiveness is the normal way of life for citizens of His Kingdom.

As Christians - as citizens of God’s Kingdom - why we live for Jesus is not because of an external set of do’s and don’ts - appearances and temporary recognition for our spiritual behavior.  We live for Jesus because of Jesus in us - the reality of His love and forgiveness.  That’s what real Christianity is - the Christianity that the world is looking for - the witness we are called to - tenderheartedness - forgiving one another - love and speech and actions which transcend our human limitations and demonstrate to the world the reality of Jesus in us.

Wouldn’t that witness make a difference in the places where we live our lives?

Two questions.  First:  Do you know God’s forgiveness?  Second:  Who do you need to forgive?

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