Creator, Father, King #200

Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?

HAVE YOU EVER WISHED that your forgiveness had a quota limit on it—a fixed threshold you didn’t have to exceed before you were allowed to bust out your elite ninja skills on people who continually annoy, insult, or hurt you?

The apostle Peter actually had the same thought (well, maybe minus the ninja stuff).

One day, he asked Jesus, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” (Matthew 18:21). At the time, Jewish leaders taught that forgiving someone three times was sufficient. So Peter probably thought he was being pretty holy.

Jesus’ answer must have caught him off guard. “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” (Matthew 18:22).

The forgiveness quota is not 490. Flying ninja kicks cannot commence at offense number 491. Jesus was using hyperbole to say our hearts should overflow with forgiveness.

To illustrate his point, he told a poignant parable in Matthew 18:23-35 about a servant who owed a powerful king a lifetime’s worth of debt. The servant pleaded for more time to pay. In his great mercy, the king absolved the entire amount and let his servant go free.

Later, the man found one of his own servants who owed him a much smaller debt. He treated him harshly and threw him in prison until he could fulfill his obligation. When the king heard about it, he condemned the wicked servant for life. “Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?” the king said (today’s verse).

What’s It Mean?

The meaning of Jesus’ parable is clear: God is the king, and we are the servants who owe an unpayable debt of sin. On our own, there is nothing we can ever do to make restitution. But when we trust in Christ’s substitutionary atonement on our behalf, God mercifully pardons all our guilt.

Our sins against God are incalculable—far greater than anyone will ever commit against us. Now the choice comes to you: When others wrong you, will you pridefully hold it against them and refuse to forgive? Or will you humbly extend the same love and mercy that God has shown you?

When someone mistreats you, put aside quotas, ninja attacks, and bitterness. Just forgive as your heavenly Father has forgiven you.

Now What?

Is there someone who has wronged you? Extend forgiveness and make it right with them today.

Did You Know?

After denying Jesus, Peter experienced forgiveness in a powerful way in John 21:15-19.