San Diego First United Methodist Church’s Daily Devotion for
Monday, 14 July 2014 – Sunday, 20 July 2014 by Craig Brown Text to read:
Matthew 18:21-35
Matthew 18: A Story About Forgiveness
21 At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how
many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?”
22 Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.
23-25 “The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square
accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before
him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn’t pay up, so
the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be
auctioned off at the slave market.
26-27 “The poor wretch threw himself at the king’s feet and
begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ Touched by his plea, the
king let him off, erasing the debt.
28 “The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon
one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the
throat and demanded, ‘Pay up. Now!’
29-31 “The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, ‘Give me a
chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ But he wouldn’t do it. He had him arrested
and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going
on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.
32-35 “The king summoned the man and said, ‘You evil servant! I
forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn’t you be
compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?’ The king
was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt.
And that’s exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you
who doesn’t forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy.”
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John Wesley’s Notes-Commentary:
Matthew 18:21-35
Verse 22
[22] Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven
times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Till seventy times seven — That is, as often as there is
occasion. A certain number is put for an uncertain.
Verse 23
[23] Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain
king, which would take account of his servants.
Therefore — In this respect.
Verse 24
[24] And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him,
which owed him ten thousand talents.
One was brought who owed him ten thousand talents — According to
the usual computation, if these were talents of gold, this would amount to
seventy-two millions sterling. If they were talents of silver, it must have
been four millions, four hundred thousand pounds. Hereby our Lord intimates the
vast number and weight of our offences against God, and our utter incapacity of
making him any satisfaction.
Verse 25
[25] But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him
to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be
made.
As he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold — Such
was the power which creditors anciently had over their insolvent debtors in
several countries.
Verse 30
[30] And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till
he should pay the debt.
Went with him before a magistrate, and cast him into prison,
protesting he should lie there, till he should pay the whole debt.
Verse 34
[34] And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the
tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
His lord delivered him to the tormentors — Imprisonment is a
much severer punishment in the eastern countries than in ours. State criminals,
especially when condemned to it, are not only confined to a very mean and
scanty allowance, but are frequently loaded with clogs or heavy yokes, so that
they can neither lie nor sit at ease: and by frequent scourgings and sometimes
rackings are brought to an untimely end.
Till he should pay all that was due to him — That is, without
all hope of release, for this he could never do. How observable is this whole
account; as well as the great inference our Lord draws from it: 1. The debtor
was freely and fully forgiven; 2. He wilfully and grievously offended; 3. His
pardon was retracted, the whole debt required, and the offender delivered to
the tormentors for ever. And shall we still say, but when we are once freely
and fully forgiven, our pardon can never be retracted? Verily, verily, I say
unto you, So likewise will my heavenly Father do to you, if ye from your hearts
forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
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Monday, July
14, 2014
Why are we told to forgive so much?>
Does it border on enablement?
Why?
Tuesday, July
15, 2014
What makes forgiveness hard to transact?
Do you enjoy it or just the fruit of it?
Wednesday,
July 16, 2014
How can you forgive people that are no longer living?
Why is it important?
Thursday, July
17, 2014
Why is there so much value placed on forgiveness?
What does our own forgiveness have to do with it?
Friday, July
18, 2014
How is forgiveness a form of healing?
Who benefits the most?
Saturday, July
19, 2014
Who needs your forgiveness today?
Who needs to forgive you?
Sunday, July
20, 2014
Pray for those carrying life-long bitterness and anger because
of the lack of forgiveness.
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First United Methodist Church
2111 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108
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