From the desk of Pastor Ben

The Example of Forgiveness – Part 3

“The lord of that slave felt compassion and released him
and forgave him the debt.”     (Matthew 18:27)

Jesus here presents an extraordinary portrait of the Father’s compassionate love for the genuinely repentant sinner. The slave asks only for patience so he can repay his debt, but instead, the king lets him go and forgives him the entire amount. That’s what God does with the sin debt of those who confess their need, repent, and receive redemption. (The parable does not depict every aspect of salvation. Since Jesus wanted to illustrate forgiveness between believers, the story simply depicts a man with an unplayable debt who seeks and receives abundant mercy.

Not until the prodigal son reached the bottom of his wretched lifestyle did he face up to his wicked foolishness (Luke 15:11-24). He had forsaken his family and lived a sinful life in a pagan land. When his money ran out, the only work the young man could find was slopping hogs, the most demeaning work for a Jew. The son then came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!” (vs. 17). He then promised to confess his sin to his father and return home. But even before the son reached home his father embraced him with forgiveness, had a celebration for him, and declared, “This son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found” (vs. 24). In a far greater way, Christ was humiliated in His incarnation and lovingly “endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2) to redeem us.

Ask Yourself:
Is there someone in your life who has come to you seeking forgiveness, but instead of lavishing it on them as your Father has done, you either gave it grudgingly or perhaps inwardly refused to do so? What is keeping you from granting forgiveness to this person — and why?