“Be kind to one another, forgiving one another even as God, for Christ’ sake has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32), 

 

Could it be that one of the hidden reasons we have so much trouble forgiving others of their offenses against us is that we do not realize how much we have been forgiven for our offenses toward God? That seems to be Paul's message to the Ephesians. He admonished them to forgive others “even as God…has forgiven you.” 

 

Professing Christians are always ready to acknowledge that we have been forgiven for our sins. It is the foundation of any belief in eternal life. However, there is always a considerable gap between what we know in our heads and what we feel deeply in our hearts. To apply Paul’s words to us requires more than lip service and more than a general acknowledgment that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). It requires a profound awareness of the excruciating burden of sin itself in our lives and the infinite damage that did to our relationship with God. 

 

In Jesus’ parable, it isn’t difficult to identify the “heavenly meaning” of the “earthly king.” Jesus wanted his listeners to identify the merciful king as God the Father, the indebted servants as his listeners and the extraordinary debt not as silver but as sin. In this context, the king’s forgiveness of the debt is a picture of the eternal forgiveness of sin offered to all. But, of course, in the story, there are two servants: the servant who refused to forgive his own debtor proved what was actually in his heart, not just his mouth. The dire consequence of his unforgiving heart was,  His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due to him.

 

When we read this story our minds are good at considering ourselves the victims of injustice–perhaps even like the king who has tried to be compassionate to others. However, reality is far murkier. When we expand the definition of “future revenge” to include all the secret bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts we have to admit that we are more like the unjust servant than the king. This is why we must learn to forgive others in the reality of how much God has forgiven us. 

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Unforgiveness is no small matter to God. How many times have we recited the words from the Lord’s Prayer even while hiding bitterness toward another?  “...forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…” 

 

What does this request mean? It means we are praying that the Father will forgive our sins to the extent we have forgiven others. The opposite is implied: to the extent we refuse to forgive others we ourselves will not be forgiven. This is how we must understand the stark warning at the end of the parable:  35 So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.” (18:35)

 

Study Guide

 

Could it be that one of the ___________________  _____________________ we have so much trouble ______________________  ______________________ of their offenses against us is that we _____________  __________________   _____________________ how much we have been ________________________ for our ______________________ toward God? 

 

Jesus wanted his listeners to identify _____________   __________________  _____________ as __________________ the ____________________, the _____________________  _______________________ as his _________________________, and the _____________________________ __________________ not as silver but as ____________. 

 

To the extent we _____________________ to ____________________  _________________ we ourselves will ______________________  ____________   ________________________

 

Reflection Questions

 

Look closely at your relationships: Are you currently withholding forgiveness from someone, refusing to 'release them from threats of future revenge'?

 

What does a lingering refusal to forgive others reveal about your actual grasp of how much God has forgiven you?

 

If you read Jesus’ warning in Matthew 18:35 and still persist in unforgiveness toward someone on what grounds can you be confident that you have ever truly experienced God’s saving grace?