The Gospel of Matthew
Forgiveness between brethren
Chapter 18: 21-35
Self-centered human nature insists on receiving justice for perceived offences or unpaid loans. People are naturally vindictive when they consider they have not received what they are entitled to. Peter's question arose because of the previous teaching concerning judgment between brethren, where a brother feeling offended, should seek the offender to re-establish peace between them. Love and forgiveness are implicit for achieving this purpose.
Peter wanted to know if there was a limit to the times he must forgive a brother who sinned against him. In those days, there was a principle among the Jews that it was reasonable to forgive up to three times. Peter, wanting to be generous in harmony with the teachings of the Lord, suggested a perfect number: seven, i.e. more than double that rule of thumb. He was literally using that number.
The answer of the Lord Jesus was remarkable, because it is in line with Genesis 4:24: "If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold ". In His perfect justice, God punishes sin in an exemplary manner. So also the believer, subject to this penalty of divine justice, but pardoned because it was paid by Christ in his place, must extend his forgiveness to his brother in the same measure: only the merciful shall obtain mercy (chapter 5:7 and 6:14,15).
The number of offences, seventy times seven or four hundred and ninety, is very great and virtually impossible to achieve during a lifetime of relationship between two people. It is obvious that nobody will keep account, and it is practically the same as saying "always". Just as the mercy of God is infinite, so must that of His children be.
The Lord Jesus illustrated the situation with a parable. We must remember that, in His parables, He always transmits a central teaching. It is not right to try to interpret other circumstances in the parable as also having a practical application. In this case, the teaching concerns the punishment and the forgiveness of men’s sins in the kingdom of Heaven (verse 23).
In the parable, a king wanted to settle accounts with his servants. One of his servants owed him ten thousand talents (*), equivalent to about £16 billion today, and he could not afford to pay it back. His master therefore commanded that this servant and everything he owned be sold, including wife and children, so payment might be made. The servant implored for patience so he could pay it all. The reality depicted here is that of sinful humanity which is hopelessly immersed in sin and has no means to justify itself before God. Like that servant, most are incredibly optimistic about what they can do if only they had time (v. 26), not realising how impossible it is for them to pay for their justification. No amount of good works will ever be able to compensate for sin against God.
The master of that servant took pity on him, released him and forgave his debt, i.e. assumed the damage himself. This is where grace surpasses justice. God is also merciful and has taken upon Himself the sins of every sinner who humbles himself, acknowledges his sin and asks forgiveness. This He did in the Person of His son, who paid for him when he gave His life on the cross of Calvary. This is the Gospel of salvation, combination of justice, love, compassion and grace of God. This part was still in the future when the parable was told, but the Lord Jesus could anticipate it because it was certain to take place shortly after.
However, the servant in the parable was not merciful, a trait essential to receiving God's mercy. This he evidenced immediately after, by refusing to forgive a colleague who owed him only the equivalent of the cost of one hundred days’ labour in a vineyard. He demanded payment in full, under the penalties of law, not listening to his pleas for mercy.
The Lord stressed the wickedness of that servant because he grabbed and almost choked the colleague who owed him, then threw him into prison until he paid the debt, an impossible demand since his chance of earning money was gone as long as he was imprisoned.
The other servants, seeing what had happened, told their master. The master called again his servant, stated that he was evil for not being compassionate to a colleague as he himself had had compassion on him, “and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him” (v.34).
So too, in the Kingdom of God, the Lord will one day settle the accounts of all His servants. All of them will have contracted a great debt of sin, which they were unable to pay. In wonderful grace and compassion, the Lord paid the debt and granted full and free forgiveness. Now suppose some Christian wrongs another. When rebuked, he apologizes and asks forgiveness. However, the offended believer refuses though the Lord has forgiven him Himself all his sins. The King will not allow such behaviour to go unpunished: this unforgiving servant will be chastened in this life and will suffer loss at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
The parable teaches us that those who do not forgive their fellow man also will not receive forgiveness from God. James tells us: "… judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy" (section 2:13).
Adding to this the teaching about judgment between brothers, which gave rise to Peter’s question, we come to the following conclusions:
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If a brother offends us, we should forgive him immediately: "be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32).
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That forgiveness must be from the heart (v. 35). With this, we are free from a vengeful, evil spirit, and leave all responsibility on the shoulders of that brother.
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Having forgiven in our heart, we do not promptly declare it to the offending brother, because it would not be fair to grant forgiveness publicly while he does not show remorse. We are then obliged to go to him and rebuke him in love, hoping to lead him to repentance (Luke 17:3).
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Soon after he apologizes and acknowledges his sin, we can declare that he is forgiven (Luke 17:4). On the other hand, if we do not forgive him, God will punish us in this world and our reward will be affected when our actions are judged before the judgment seat of Christ.
R David Jones
(*)The heavy common talent, used in New Testament times, was 58.9 kilograms (130 lb) of gold.
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'
27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'
29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'
30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.
32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'
34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
Matthew chapter 18, verses 21 to 35