"Unforgiving? Unforgiven" January 28 Readings: Exodus 8-9, Matthew 18, Psalm 18:1-4, Proverbs 3:27-29

Today's Readings - Exodus 8-9, Matthew 18, Psalm 18:1-4, Proverbs 3:27-29

Devotional - Unforgiving? Unforgiven

Every day, millions upon millions of Christians attempt to prove that the Bible is not true. Oh, no, they would never question whether God made the world or whether there was a flood. They would affirm that Jesus walked on water and healed the sick. But there is one teaching of Scripture that many millions want to ignore and attempt to prove its message false.

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant is just one place where this principle is taught. It is found in the Sermon on the Mount and many other places in Jesus' teachings. The truth is reiterated by Paul. Simply put, those who wish to receive the forgiveness of God must be willing to extend that forgiveness toward those who have sinned against them.

I'd love to know what situation prompted Peter to ask how many times he had to forgive his brother, but he was feeling magnanimous when he offered to forgive his as many as seven times, in Matthew 18:21. Forgiving someone seven times? That's nothing to sneeze at! But Jesus raised the stakes on forgiveness. No, he said, in verse 22. We do not just forgive 7 times, but seventy-seven times. (There is some question whether he meant 77 times, or 70 times 7.) The point is that our forgiveness of others needs to reflect the forgiveness of Christ - unmerited, unstinting, and limitless.

Jesus told the story of the man who was forgiven a massive debt by the king, approximately 20 years worth of wages. How did this forgiven man celebrate his freedom? He found a man who owed him a day's wages and demanded payment. Forgiven twenty years of debt, he demanded full payment of one day's wage. He physically assaulted the man and had him thrown in prison when he could not pay up. When the king heard about this he was furious. How could a man to whom he had shown such kindness be so greedy and selfish? His forgiveness was revoked and he was imprisoned until he could pay the entire debt.

Parables are told to make a point. This one makes a very simple point. You cannot ask God to forgive your sins while holding grudges and refusing forgiveness to those who have sinned against you. God's grace cannot be received if it is not also passed on.

And every day, millions of Christians bow their heads and try to prove that God's Word is not true. They pray that God would forgive their sins while holding grudges against those who have hurt and injured them. They ask for grace while refusing to pass it on.

• But you don't understand what he (or she) did to me. 
• Surely God didn't mean to include a sin like this one when he made this rule. 
• God may forgive him (or her) but I never will. 
• How can God ask me to overlook what that person did to me? 

Forgiveness is fundamentally unfair. That person did you wrong. He hurt you. She cheated you. They owe you a debt. But your trespasses and debts have been forgiven by God. You have sinned against him and the blood of his Son has paid the price so that your sins could be forgiven. Your debt is paid. As you did wrong against God and he forgave you, you must forgive those who have wronged you.

You have a choice today. You can hold a grudge. You can hate. You can harbor anger and ill will against those who have hurt you. On a human level, perhaps, you have every right. But what you cannot do is receive God's forgiveness and refuse it to someone else. I cannot say, "God forgive me" while also saying, "I will not forgive."

When you refuse to forgive, you are refusing God's forgiveness. The Bible makes it absolutely clear that we can't have it both ways. It says so here, in this parable. It says so when we pray, "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." Ephesians 4:32 reminds us to forgive others "as God in Christ has forgiven us."

Matthew 6:14-15 states this principle clearly.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

There is nothing more supernatural than forgiveness. It is an amazing act of God's grace when we are forgiven, but it is also a mighty work of God's power when we pass that forgiveness on to those who have wronged us. 

Father, I thank you for the forgiveness that you have given me in Christ. Remind me today that forgiveness received must also be forgiveness given. Bring to my mind those who have wronged me, against whom I have anger and bitterness. As you have freed me from the debt of my sin, help me to free them today, forgiving as I have been forgiven. 

Think and Pray

Which of the readings spoke most powerfully to you today?
Is the Spirit of God moving you to repent of something you are doing, to begin something new, or to change something about your life as a result of your readings? What?