“Through the Looking Glass” The Kingdom of Heaven as seen through the parables of Jesus
“For now we see through a glass…” – I Cor. 13:12
“A MYRIAD”
The Unforgiving Servant: Matt. 18:23-35
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.”
WHAT’S IT “THEREFORE?” (Context: Matthew 18:15-17 & 21-22)
WE OWE A “MYRIAD” OF DEBT.
According to WIKIPEDIA: “10,000 (a MYRIAD) was the highest Greek numeral …10,000 talents was the largest easily described debt … would be about 200,000 years’ wages.
WE ROBBED GOD OF HOLINESS… NOT THAT WE TOOK IT FROM HIM SO WE NOW HAVE IT AND HE DOESN’T, BUT WE ROBBED HIM OF THE HOLINESS HE CREATED IN US FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP.
WE CANNOT PAY BACK HOLINESS!
DOESN’T MATTER WHO I AM (A KING’S “SERVANTS” COULD BE PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS!)
Psalm 49:7-9 & 15 7 No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them— 8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough— 9 so that they should live on forever and not see decay… 15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.
WE ARE GRANTED A “MYRIAD” OF FORGIVENESS.
GOD’S FORGIVENESS IS A “MYRIAD” OF FORGIVENESS! HE WAS HOLY, SPOTLESS LAMB
Matthew 26:28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
I Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Mark 3:28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, (blasphemy of H.S. unforgivable)
WE ARE TO GRANT A “MYRIAD” OF FORGIVENESS.
“…not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Colossians 3:13 Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
4 “TAKE-HOME” TRUTHS
- A “MYRIAD” OF FORGIVENESS FREES US TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR “MYRIAD” OF DEBT.
- WE CAN GET DEFENSIVE OR FREE.
- BECAUSE WE OWE HIM NOTHING, WE OWE HIM EVERYTHING!
(REPENTANT LIFESTYLE)
- MY PERSPECTIVE OF THE DEBT I’VE BEEN FORGIVEN IS THE CAPACITY I HAVE TO FORGIVE OTHERS.
“Whoever has ears, let them hear.” – Matthew 11:15