Tuesday 5 March 2013


TUESDAY-THIRD WEEK OF LENT- YEAR-C

I Reading: Daniel 3:25, 34-43: May the contrite soul, the humbled spirit be acceptable to you.

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35: Your Father will not forgive you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant: The Spirit of Forgiveness

How often are we to forgive a person? Does God except us to forgive and forgive-no matter the abuse and number of times the wrong is done? Jesus Christ answered these and many other questions in this discussion.

1.     The spirit and practise of forgiveness (v.21-22)

a.     Peter asked about forgiving a brother: is forgiveness limited?

b.    Jesus answered: forgiveness is unlimited

c.      Jesus illustrated: is like the kingdom of heaven

2.     There is God’s spirit of forgiveness: like a king who settles his accounts with his servant (v.23-27)

a.     All must give account

b.    One is brought to him

c.      The servant owes a huge debt

d.    The servant is bankrupt

i.                   He is to be sold

ii.                 He is to lose all

e.      The servant faces him

f.      The servant cries for mercy

i.                   Worships the king

ii.                 Makes a commitment

g.     The servant experiences the compassion of a loving king: is freed and forgiven

3.     There is the servant’s spirit of unforgiveness (v.28-31)

a.     He faces a fellow servant who owes him: In comparison a very small sum

b.    He reacts severely

c.      He rejects the cry for mercy: refuses to forgive

d.    He acts materialistically and selfishly-according to law and justice

e.      He grieves the other servants: they carry the matter to the Lord

4.     There is the great day of accounting (v.32-34)

a.     Two bases of judgement

God’s forgiveness: offered in Christ

The servant’s wickedness: he lacks compassion and mercy

b.    The judgement

The Lord’s anger

The Lord’s justice: the man was condemned and punished

5.     There is the point: An unforgiving person will be judged (v.35)


Thought: Forgiveness must come from heart. We must live a life of forgiveness, compassion and mercy toward others.

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