TUESDAY-THIRD WEEK OF LENT- YEAR-A
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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