David Bahn – Reflections

This is Thanksgiving week. Many are thinking about turkey, pumpkin pie, football and family gatherings. Along with those gatherings will go opportunities to be offended, remember old hurts, relive past gatherings – happy and sad. Some will gather for their meal missing one special person for the first time. Others will take the opportunity to go help at a local homeless shelter. Some will go to Grandma’s; others will go hunting. High on the list of things for which we should certainly be thankful are family and friends.

Matthew 18:21-35

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” ²²Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

²³“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ ²⁷And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. ²⁸But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ ²⁹So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ ³⁰He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. ³¹When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. ³²Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³ And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. ³⁵ So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Forgiveness is the essential currency for all of these gatherings. Forgiveness is motivated by the love and grace of God. Any other motive or focus is not only unworthy, they are deficient; they’ll never carry us far enough to sustain true and deep relationships. Infatuation goes only so far until it wears off. Mutual respect runs amok when a selfish moment intrudes or a thoughtful gesture is forgotten. In the very best of relationships there is a vital need for forgiveness. We have all been offended. We have all offended. The only way in which true respect and reconciliation can happen is if forgiveness is part of the mix. Love, respect, good feelings, mutual interests and any of the other key factors for compatibility are all important. And, in fact, there are other essentials than forgiveness (love, for example!). But forgiveness is essential.

Not only is forgiveness essential; it – like love – is the great gift of God that may only be replicated, never manufactured from our own list of personal ingredients. Forgiveness comes from God. Jesus teaches that in the parable of the unforgiving servant. The king is a figure for God in this parable. He forgives first and most. Out of the abundance of his forgiveness it is ludicrous for us to withhold forgiveness from someone else. Our huge debt has been forgiven. Surely we can forgive the smaller debts of others.

More about that tomorrow…