Matthew 18:23-30

November 14

Matthew 18:23-30 NASB

“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. [24] When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. [25] But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. [26] So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ [27] And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. [28] But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ [29] So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ [30] But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.

What if the man didn’t believe his debt was truly forgiven. What if he believed the king only gave him more time to settle the debt. That would have been an incredible reprieve, more than he could have hoped for. Maybe the idea of a full pardon was inconceivable. So he lived out of what seemed most reasonable. He would live in desperation to pay the debt. And now that he knows how great a price this debt would cost, he and his family sold to pay off the debt. He’s living in fear.

As I read this passage this morning, I thought, what if we don’t really believe that Christ has forgiven all our sins. What if we believe God has only given us more opportunities to get it right. What if we believe forgiveness is conditional. God’s grace and do the right thing. God’s mercy and some religious sacrament will put you in right standing with God. Then we will live in fear like the slave in Matthew did. We will miss the beauty of what we have been given. We are forgiven. We are sons and daughters of the King of Kings. Our debt has been paid. We are free.