| Lesson 78: The Law Of The Old Testament That Is Covered In The New Testament Debt Of Entrapment 4/10/2014 by turtle Matthew 18:22-35 KJV (22) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (23) Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. (24) And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. (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. (26) The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. (27) Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. (28) But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. (29) And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. (30) And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. (31) So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. (32) Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: (33) Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? (34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. (35) So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. We live in a time most people have a debt to someone. Unpaid bills, or bills stacking with I hope to one day pay this off. Creditors in general want their money yesterday and not today. Those charging high interest want you to stretch it out as long as you can, so they can make a profit off the interest, because they know they will. How much depends on the debt and payment one is making. It is life in this world. If you have electricity you have a bill. If you live in a town or city you definitely have water bill, in the country you might have a well and only if the water is good. This is life. No one lives completely debt free. It is a type of enslavement that can not be avoided. Car or a house you expect to pay for years. What if you were told today was the last day to pay all your bills or you be going to jail. Most of us would probably be begging for mercy. In the story above a man with much debt came before the lord/king and lord says sell this man and his family because of his debt. Sell him because he can not pay. The man begged for mercy, hoping that the man would let him pay overtime. The lord forgave him all his debt, only hear the man not willing to forgive the debt of someone else. This anger the lord to the point that he had the guy tormented till he paid his debt. The point of the story is if we can not forgive those that harm us, how can we expect our heavenly Father to forgive us. This story hurts many because the ability to forgive seems impossible, yet take note the lord forgave first, and that should have been enough to enable one to show mercy themselves. God forgives first when one repents, then it is up to us to forgive as well those that transgress against us, instead of using it to blackmail or to harm them in anyway. To forgive is to have mercy, but it also the first gift he gave the disciples after the resurrection according to John 20. How precious is that gift of the Holy Spirit to forgive. God gave His Spirit so we could forgive and to find comfort in His love. Not so we could inflict revenge, revenge is God’s place not ours. Dear Heavenly Father help us to show mercy and not to entrap. To help us rest in your love and mercy, to enable our own act of mercy. In Jesus precious name, Amen. http://www.turtle30cshell.com _ |
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