Matthew 18-21: Forgive and Forget?

How many times have you heard the phrase "forgive and forget"? There is something to the phrase, but it may be slightly misleading. As I read through Matthew 18:21-35 today, I noticed an interesting perspective on forgiveness. Jesus told the story of a king settling accounts with his slaves. One slave pleaded and begged not to be thrown into prison. He owed 10,000 talents, roughly equivalent to 150,000 YEARS of normal wages. There was no way he would EVER pay that back! But the king had compassion upon his servant and forgave him the whole debt.

This is a story that grabs the hearts of men. We are interested when someone wins a million dollars. "How will he spend it? What will he do with his new life, now that he has no debts to trouble him? I wish I was in his position. I would be able to help so many people if I had money. I would be a much better person, if I didn't have the constant worry of making a living. Oh, to be completely debt free!"

Now that Jesus has our full attention, He proceeds to demonstrate the ruin of this servant. Instead of becoming a better person, he went out to find another servant who owed him only 100 danarii, roughly 100 days of normal wages. This was certainly a debt, but it could be paid back within a few months. But the servant had no forgiveness for his fellow. He threw him in prison, demanding everything be paid in full.

What I find interesting is how the king responded. He had forgiven this servant. He had wiped away the debt. But when the servant showed no intention of forgiving his fellow servant, the king threw him in prison and REINSTATED HIS OLD DEBT. Jesus was drawing a marked parallel between this king and God, for He concludes: "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart" (Matthew 18:35).

When God says, "I will remember your sins no more" (Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:12; 10:17), I think the true meaning is: "I will remember your sins against you no more." It's not as if the sins never existed. God still knows I sinned. God forgave David for his sin with Bathsheba, but He still recorded it in Scripture! He certainly remembered the sin, but He does not remember the sin AGAINST David any longer. David was forgiven.

If, after God forgives us, we then refuse to forgive our neighbor and brother, God will hold us accountable for all those sins that we have committed in this life. God forgives us only as we forgive others. Kind of scary, huh? But if we are to be God's children, we must act like Him!

God bless,
Nathan

Tomorrow's Reading: Matthew 22-25