Forgiveness in the kingdom of God (Matthew 18:21-35) By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Forgiveness in the kingdom of God (Matthew 18:21-35)

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce   Christian Arts Ministries 

 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.” 

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who 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 denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him.’ Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. “His fellow 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.”

                 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. This refers to the forgiveness of our debts incurred after we are saved and become slaves of the Lord.  In the verse 28 a hundred denarii which is less than one ten thousandth of ten thousand talents. It refers to a sin committed against us by a brother after we are saved and become slaves of the Lord. When we do not forgive the brother who sins against us will grieve the other brothers, and they may bring this matter to the Lord. Verse 34 refers to 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. i.e., until we repay all that is owed. Then 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.