The
Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity
The
Collect.
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ORD we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in
continual godliness; that through thy protection it may be free from all
adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in good works, to the glory of
thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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hen came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin
against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus
saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven
times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a
certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought
unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 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. 26 The
servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience
with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with
compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his
fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and
took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and
besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into
prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they
were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 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: 33 Shouldest
not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on
thee? 34 And his lord
was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was
due unto him. 35 So
likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts
forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
(Matt 18:21-35)
Peace of mind is one of the fruits of forgiveness. Even when we are
sure in our minds that we have been irreparably wronged, there is a sore spot
in our hearts that says, FORGIVE.
The wrong done you will not result in the loss of an arm, or of one’s life. Go
to that person who has wronged you. He is hurting more than you are. Frankly
forgive him in the same way Christ forgives you. But how does God forgives us
our sins.
A tree grows and produces fruit because of the outward benefit the
leaves provide through the process of photosynthesis to the inward tree, just
as the inner tree gives grow the to the leaves. If we take away the leaves, the
inner tree will die. Forgiveness is the leaves of the tree of our hearts.
Peter seems
to be the spokesmen of choice for the disciples. He is fearless in being open
and frank. One of the others most likely planted the question in Peter’s mind –
most likely Judas – the least forgiving of all. So Peter frames the question in
a manner consistent with the Law of Moses. He feels that seven times is a large
number, but Christ gives him an answer that is intended to indicate that, like
love, there should be no bottom to our forgiveness.
There are
three stages of forgiveness consistent with the manner in which God forgives:
1 When a
brother, not one of the world, offends me, I should forgive that person in the
silent chambers of my heart , but not yet openly. And be ye kind
one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's
sake hath forgiven you. (Eph 4:32) The
bitterness of unforgiving spirit is then taken from our own hearts.
2
I do not
inform him of my forgiveness for him since that would not be consistent with
the manner in which God forgives. I must go to him, in love, and rebuke
him for his offense. Take heed to yourselves: If
thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
(Luke
17:3)
3
Immediately
upon the friend’s apology, you must inform him that he is forgiven. 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. (Luke 17:4)
22 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. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy
gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against
thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way;
first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. (Matt 5:22-24)
There are reasons for righteous anger and
indignation. It spurs us to action to remedy a wicked circumstance such as
rape, murder, molesting little children, etc.
We now have the parable of the Kingdom involving a King. That King is
God the Father.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him,
which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 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. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him,
saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion,
and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
In the days of this accounting, the amount of ten thousand talents was
an enormous amount – more than $20,000,000. The King in this story
represents God. The debtor – you and me. Without the remission of
our debts (sins) we are sold off into slavery and bondage to Satan. In fact, we
sell ourselves out to that merciless master.
We may deem it a simple thing for a great King to forgive even an
enormous debt, and feel that we are justified in demanding the last cent owed
us by a poor man; but though God is a great King, He has a great Heart and is
willing to forgive. It was no simple thing for Him to forgive our sins and
remit them. It cost Him the life-blood of His only Begotten Son!
A minister was discussing forgiveness with some school boys one day.
One of the boys was incensed that his friend had struck him on the playground.
The minister asked, “Jimmy, do you think, in view of the Scripture passage we
just read on forgiveness, that you could find it in your heart to forgive
another boy who hurt you, or struck you, on the playground?” Jimmy responded, “Y-e-e-s-s,
Sir, I suppose I could,” and then added, “I could if he was bigger than me!”
Well God is bigger than all of us. But He desires that we love others as a
measure of our love for Him.
The debtor in the parable pleads for patience. Apparently, the King has
long exercised patience with this man, and there is no more time for it. God’s
Spirit will not always strive with man. And the Lord said, My spirit
shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh (Gen 6:3)
God cannot renew an unwilling spirit to reconcile that spirit to His own Spirit
of Righteousness. Those whose hearts are not full of love and forgiveness do
not belong to God.
28 But the same
servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an
hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying,
Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his
fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience
with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not:
but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So
when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and
told unto their lord all that was done. 32 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: 33 Shouldest
not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on
thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to
the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
See how this unworthy servant has received such a mighty forgiveness,
and at enormous cost (as you and me through the blood of Christ) – yet cannot
forgive even a small debt (100 pence or three months average wage at the time)
of a fellow servant of less means. He will sell him into bondage! This is not
God-like. This is not Christ-like! This is very much like the devil that
deceived Eve.
You may have had a dear friend spite you in a small matter, but the
resentment has built in your heart – it has grown beyond the proportions of a
normal Mustard Tree and taken over your whole heart. You are weary day by day
and avoid even looking into your dear friends eyes. He is hurt by your
behavior, but who suffers more: the offender, or the victim. Seeds of wrath in
the heart bare trees of hatred and misery.
We have all fallen so very short of the righteousness of God that it is
completely beyond our sight, but Christ gives us the means to assume that
righteousness of His own. He forgives our sins, washes us clean, and is ever
ready to renew our hearts when we repent of every offense. He suffered
intensely for you and me. Can we not overlook the smallest infraction by a
friend?
The criminal has no rest of conscience in constantly contemplating his
being discovered. Many would find greater joy in confessing their faults and
paying debt than in whiling away in constant fear. The sinner suffers no such
dilemma. The King stands at the ready to forgive promptly and completely every
sin confessed, and those unthought of sins unconfessed. We need only remove the
shroud of false pride and bitterness, empty our hearts of hate, and come to Him
seeking forgiveness in repentance. There is no cost to the sinner for such a
benefit for the cost has already been paid by the King’s Son.
If you have resentment and hate in your heart growing from unforgiven
offences, open you heart to the Dipper of Love in God’s Hand and forgive all.
Then you may have rest to your souls. Amen.
