Matthew 18:21-35  Peter had a good question.. "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"   That was a pretty generous offer in Peter's mind.. surely 7 times would be sufficient for someone who keeps sinning against us.   Most of us wouldn't even be that generous.. would we?  

What if someone we know were to keep stealing from us?

What about an unfaithful spouse who kept cheating?

What about a friend who tells lies about you?

Seven times seems like a lot to put up with... let alone what Jesus says.. "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."   Oh boy... that's way beyond our breaking point for most of us...(or am I just speaking for myself?)

"For this reason.. "   Jesus gives us a Kingdom parable... It is about a king who begins to settle his accounts with his slaves.  One in particular owed a debt of "ten thousand talents".  Perhaps an equivalent of  $10,000.000 or more.  How a slave could owe so much we are not told... the point is that it was way beyond anything that could be repaid in his lifetime.  The penalty for not paying that debt was to be sold- along with his wife, all of his children, and all of his belongings.  Even that would not begin to touch the debt owed.  The man begged for mercy.. "Have patience with me, and I will repay you everything." Ha! But, the king had compassion on him, released him, and forgave the debt in full!  Amazing!

Then the fellow goes out to try to gather some of the money owed him.. finds a man who owed him "a hundred denarii" - one day's wages.  Not much in the scheme of things.  He chokes the man, refuses to forgive the debt, and throws him in prison.  It was his right to do that.. but it was definitely not right for him to do it. So when the king hears about it, he becomes so angry that he hands the man over "to the torturers.....Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, even as I had mercy on you?"

"So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."   Heaven "sets the standard and earth follows heaven's lead"... Our God has chosen to set the standard of compassion.. mercy.. forgiveness of sins.  The size of the debt.. the number of times one sins  against us.. is not the issue. Again, it is not about us - our rights; our abilities; our sense of justice - it's about God's will and purpose - forgiveness...mercy.. compassion... love that goes beyond our human capacity.. 

 He has shown us the supreme example - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."  While we were still sinners.. Christ died for us.  Our debts have been forgiven - our penalty paid in full. How can we not forgive our brother from our heart?

Lord God, Maker of heaven and earth, You are gracious and merciful.. slow to anger.. great in lovingkindness!  Hallowed be Your Name.  We ask for Your Name to be exalted, for Your Kingdom to come, and for Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. We pray that You would help us to truly forgive our brothers and sisters from our hearts.. as You have forgiven us.  We struggle with this sometimes, Lord.  You know us full well.... transform our thinking by Your Word that we might be obedient to Your teaching.  Come Spirit of God and renew our hearts, removing anything that would keep us from walking in mercy and love with one another.  We need Your help, Lord Jesus. We ask this in Your Name. Amen.