Thursday, May 1, 2008

Therefore the kigdom of heaven is like a human king who wished to settle accounts with his attendants. When he began the accounting, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents (probably about $10,000,000), and becuase he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and his children and everything that he possessed, and payment to be made. So the attendant fell on his knees, begging him, hHave patience with me and I will pay you everything. And his master;s heart was moved with compassion, and he released him and forgave him (cancelling) the debt. But that same attendant, as he went out, found one of his fellow attendants who owed him a hundred denarii (about twenty dollars); and he caught him by the throat and said, Pay what you owe! So his fellow attendant fell down and begged him earnestly, Give me time, and I will pay you all! But he was unwilling and went out and had him put in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow attendants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and told everything that had taken place to their master. Then his master called him and said to him, You contemptible and wicked attendant! I forgave you and cancelled al that great debt of yours because you begged me; and should you not have had pity and mercy on your fellow attendant, as I had pity and mercy on you? And in wrath his master turned him over to the torturers (the jailers), till he should pay all that he owed. So also My heavenly Father will deal with every one of you, if you do not freely forgive your brother from your heart his offenses. Matthew 18:23-35

There are at least two dimensions in this parable (that I am aware of )

  1. Why do people not want to pay back the debt? Most likely they do not have money at that moment, but also I think that it is our selfishness. WE think of ourselves and our needs as more important than others. For example, in this story, the first attendant pleaded to give him mercy, like saying I know I need mercy, give me that. THe second one, probably was more sincere , he could not pay the debt at that moment but was willing to pay later. I noticed even in my heart this tendency. AS I received freely 100 dollars, I knew I had to pay back to Jenny, but immediately our thoughts came: Well, I would like to spend this money on my needs. Maybe I should pay her back of that sum of money. This is completely wrong! Jesus gives supernaturally to cover our debts (not only financial ut spiritual), yet we continue to serve our own needs and desires.
  2. The point of this story is to be willing to forgive freely and not hold offenses against those who made us wrong. I feel that I am also in this category. It is so hard in my heart to let go and freely love with compassion my sister Tori. But no matter what I feel, God's word says to "freely forgive your sister from your heart her offenses".

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