Bible in one year Matthew 18 Forgiveness in the kingdom of God By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year Matthew 18  Forgiveness in the kingdom of God 

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries:Biblical precepts & Gospel music; pastoral ministry & counseling

 

Forgiveness in the kingdom - (Matthew18:21-35)

           

             Messiah Christ Jesus taught a lesion of forgiveness, unveiled in the Matthew 18:21-35. When Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you not seven times, but seventy seven times” (Matt.18:22). Why Jesus emphasized the importance of forgiveness that we must forgive those who sin against us, not only seven times, but seventy seven times? For it matters to the forgiveness in the kingdom, if we do not forgive a brother from our heart today, we will not be allowed to enter into the kingdom in the coming age.  

            The judgment seat of Christ about the forgiveness in his coming, Jesus used “a king who desired to settle accounts with his salves” as parable to explain the forgiveness in the kingdom. “One owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 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. The servant fell on his knees before him, “Be patient with me”, he begged, and “I will pay back everything.” The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.       But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarili. He grabbed him and began to choke him. Pay back what you owe me! He demanded. His follow servant fell to his knees and begged him, “be patient with me. And I will pay you back.”  But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.” When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.   

           Then the master called the servant in. “you wicked servant.” He said, “I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” in anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.

Implication of Matt.18:23-35           

             Ten thousand talents such a large amount indicates that it was impossible for the debtor to pay off the debt. This refers to the heavy debt of our sins against the Lord accumulated after we are saved. The forgiveness of our debts incurred after we are saved and become salves of the Lord. One owed a hundred denarili symbolizes that once we face a brother sin committed against us after we are saved and become salve of the Lord. Not forgive the brother who sins against us will grieve the other brothers, and they may bring this matter to the Lord. The Lord’s dealing with His believers at His coming back. If we do not forgive the brother who sins against us, we will be disciplined by the Lord until we forgive him from the heart. Until we repay all that is owed, The Lord will forgive us. This is forgiveness in the kingdom. This implies that if we do not forgive a brother from our heart today, we will not be allowed to enter into the kingdom in the coming age.  

            Turn to him the other cheek (Matthew5:38-42) is the most difficult lesion to Christianity. Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." but I tell you that you are not to seek revenge of an injury. Whoever strikes you on the cheek, turn the other to him also. Whoever wants to sue you for the shirt on your back let him have your coat as well. Whoever forces you to go one mile with him, consent to go two, give to whoever begs of you, and do not turn your back upon him who wants to borrow.

             My friends, can you fulfill these commands? Can you let go all the hurts the man had done to you? No, you can't, but Jesus did. That's why we need Jesus to be our savior and redeemer. Jesus has been carried all the hurts for us on the cross since 2000 years ago. When you got hurts, just look at cross, and call upon the name of Jesus, and say, “Lord, please heal me, I let all the hurts go and hand it over to the cross". By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries

Bibliography,

 

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.