Forgiveness and Mercy, and “The Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor”
INTRODUCTION
“The Lord’s Prayer” is the starting point
When Jesus responded to the disciples request to teach them how to pray, we are told in Luke 11:1-4, “¶And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. ¶And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.“
Similarly we also are told in Matthew 6:9-13, that Jesus said, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.“
Note how the petitioner is instructed to worship and honor the Father God in Heaven, and to humbly pray seven key things, but notice (for the purposes of this study) that one of those things is to petition God the Father to forgive us of our trespasses (sins), just as we are to forgive those who trespass (sin) against us. This is a key instruction that Jesus emphasized a number of times along with the immediately following admonition given as part of the “Sermon on the Mount” following His teaching “the Lord’s Prayer“:
- Matthew 6:14&15, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.“
Other Bible passages that also apply include:
- Matthew 18:35, “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” (Please notice that it is not just a smile and lip service forgiveness, but forgiveness from the heart! Remember what God said in 1 Samuel 16:7, “¶…for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.“)
- Mark 11:25 & 26, “¶And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.“
The Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor
Jesus expounded on that admonition when the Apostle Peter asked Jesus the following question in Matthew 18:21, “¶Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” after which Jesus replied the following in Matthew 18:22, “¶Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.“
Jesus said that we should forgive others “seventy times seven” (which is literally “490” times). However, even that number should not be taken “literally”, but rather figuratively, or, more accurately, “spiritually”, because the Numbers in the Bible “7” and “70” spiritually represent perfection of what is in view (see below in the Appendix), we can rest assured that Jesus is telling us that our forgiving is to be perfect, even as God’s forgiveness of our sins is perfect, and hence that we are to NEVER stop forgiving others of their sins as they trespass against us.
We should also note that the number seven comes up again with regard to forgiveness in Luke 17:3&4, “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.“
However, Jesus did not stop there, because immediately following that short dialogue in Matthew 18:21&22, Jesus proceeded with the following “Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor” that we find in:
- Matthew 18:23-35, “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. ¶ But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.” And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. ¶So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
Anyone who is counted among those of God’s Elect, knows that the number of his or her sins (the trespasses against God and His Law) are innumerable. Hence the debt is also so very great that the debt, too, is beyond measure. And, even more importantly, that same debt could not simply just be dismissed by God, but rather had to be paid for in full by God Himself, through the Atoning Sacrifice of the LORD Jesus Christ, Who not only endured the physical death on the cross, but also the eternal wrath of God in Hell for the equivalent of eternity. That was a Ransom Payment for debt that we can neither possibly fathom nor ever pay.
And notice that the debtor “fell down, and worshipped” the king. The debtor panicked when he knew he could not pay the debt that he owed to the king, and so he was forced to show obeisance to the king begging for mercy. But as we read on, it was not from his heart. We are reminded of what we find in Isaiah 29:13, “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:“
Moreover, the emphasis here is that we must also desire to forgive others of their trespasses against us in our hearts (and not just with our lips and our minds), or we will likewise be beholden to God for our trespasses to Him, and that payment requires an eternity in Hell.
Forgiveness Is Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself
We must all also remember the so-called “Golden Rule” that Jesus taught during the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 7:12, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Just as we all want to be forgiven of the trespasses that we have caused to others (and God), we must always be forgiving to everyone who trespasses against us. No desire for revenge, or returning evil for evil, and no holding grudges in our hearts.
This is expanded further in Matthew 22:37-40, “¶Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” For more on this please see the post on the “Parable of the Good Samaritan.”
Note the consistency with what we find in Job 31:13-15, “If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?“
A Believer understands that all of mankind (which includes hisself or herself) are sinners by nature and according to Romans 3:9&10, “¶What then? are we better [than they]? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; ¶As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” which hearkens us back to Psalm 14:1-3, “¶[[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.]] The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, [and] seek God. They are all gone aside, they are [all] together become filthy: [there is] none that doeth good, no, not one.” Therefore we should just be grateful, and thank and praise God that things are not worse every single day of our temporal lives. We must view every other person as our earthly brothers and sisters (those saved, and those still unsaved, alike) and realize that it is only by the grace of God that anyone is, or can be, saved. Ultimately, to be forgiving of others is to realize that in the eyes of a perfectly Holy and Just God, there is no room for pride or hate, which is clearly manifest in unforgiveness.
God stated plainly the following in Leviticus 19:18, “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I [am] the LORD.”
This comes up again in Colossians 3:12, “¶Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.“
Also in James 5:9, “¶Grudge (grieve) not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.“, and in James 4:11, which is pertinent as well, “¶Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of [his] brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.“
Moreover, Jesus said very clearly to pro-actively love our enemies, and not just love those who show kindness and are dear to us, in Matthew 5:43-48, “¶Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.“
God is Merciful, Therefore We should be Merciful
Similarly, in Luke 6:32-36 Jesus said, “¶For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend [to them] of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”
And of course, we read the very next verse in Luke 6:37, “¶Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”
It is therefore very clear from the above that if we desire mercy from God for our sins, then we must be likewise merciful to others. Exodus 34:6, “And the LORD passed by before him (Moses), and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth [generation].” Psalm 103:8, “The LORD [is] merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” Psalm 116:5, “Gracious [is] the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.“Matthew 5:7, “Blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.“
James 2:13 tells us similarly and quite significantly, “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” Those that show no mercy now, shall find no mercy on Judgment Day. On the other hand, there will be such as shall become recipients of mercy, in whom mercy rejoices against judgment: everyone, in the last day, will be either vessels of wrath or vessels of mercy. It concerns all to consider among which of these two shall they be found.
More on Loving Thy neighbor as Thyself
Note also the harmony of the above verses with what we find in the Old Testament in Exodus 23:4, “¶ If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.“
Similar verses include:
- Matthew 19:19, “Honour thy father and [thy] mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.“
- Matthew 22:39, “And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.“
- Mark 12:29, “¶And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments [is], Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment. And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.“
- Luke 6:31, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.“
- Romans 13:9, “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.“
- Galatians 5:14, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.“
- James 2:8, “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
Romans 12:17, “¶ Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” This reminds us of What God said in Deuteronomy 32:35, “To me [belongeth] vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in [due] time: for the day of their calamity [is] at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.“
To be unforgiving is in essence to be hateful in one’s heart. And to be hateful in one’s heart is the same as being a murderer according to what we find in 1 John 3:15, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” Moreover, in Matthew 5:22, Jesus said, “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.“
And this also hearkens us back to the Old Testament and to what we read in Leviticus 19:17, “¶Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.” The Old Testament has additional pertinent admonitions as we find in Proverbs 20:22, “Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.“
Finally, we should remember these admonition from Jesus in Matthew 5:22-26, “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.”
And ultimately, we should all also consider the fact that we are all by nature in an adversarial relationship with God apart from God’s Saving Grace because of our sins, so this latter verses should also be understood as saying that we make peace with God through Jesus Christ today (‘quickly‘) for who knows if we will be alive tomorrow? And to pay ‘the uttermost farthing‘ in prison for our sins means spending an eternity in Hell! 2 Corinthian 6:2, “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.)“
Conclusion: “Love [is] the fulfilling of the law“
Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant followed directly after Jesus reply to Peter concerning “seventy times seven” as the number of times to forgive someone who trespasses against us, which drove home the point that if we are forgiven the enormous debt of sin against our Holy God, how much more should we be eager to forgive those who sin against us, who are just as sinful as we are? Paul parallels this example in Ephesians 4:32, where we are admonished, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Clearly, forgiveness is not to be meted out in a limited fashion but is to be abundant, overflowing, and available to all, just as the measureless grace of God is poured out upon all believers.
A Christian should not hate or begrudge others for any reason. The Bible makes clear what love is. Romans 13:10 tells us, “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.” And if we say that we love God, then we must love others as ourselves, and moreover in John 14:15, Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
John 13:35, “By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.“
1 John 4:7, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”
1 John 4:12, “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.“
1 John 4:20&21, “¶If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.“
Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.“
And finally, what is the best way we can show true love to both friend and foe…it is by being a Christian witness to them of the Gospel of Salvation by Jesus Christ our LORD, whoever they may be, and to pray for their souls in the hope that they too might be saved from their sins.
Postscript: We should also remember that sometimes a hurt can even come from another Christian, intentionally or unintentionally, and so then, rather than harbor any ill feelings, it is correct to discuss it privately, and in a loving manner, with that person as we read in Matthew 18:15, “¶Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” There is additional instruction in the following verses, but it has more to do with church discipline for one who is unrepentant.
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