Debt!

A Series on Lent: Peter’s Journey
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Mt 18:21-35

[Lent is a time of reflection. During Lent, we will be looking at Peter’s Journey to learn how his reflections on his own life, his culture, his religion and his savior changed his life forever.]

  

You go into debt to buy your home, buy your car, send your children to college, remodel your home, or when you go on a once in a lifetime vacation. At one time or another, my wife and I have been indebted in all of these examples. But I don’t ever remember anyone forgiving one of my debts.

 

Peter asked Jesus “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus proceeded to tell Peter a story about debt. Although the parable isn’t really about money, it’s a good metaphor that applies to Peter’s question. Here’s how Jesus responded.

 

²² “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!

²³ “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. ²⁴ In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. ²⁵ He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.    NLT

 

The practice of “debt slavery” was one that Peter would have been familiar with. Desperately poor people trying to work off their indebtedness to Gentile landowners often became “debt slaves”. In fact, most often they would fall further behind in debt just like the servant in the story.

 

Despite the unrealistic size of the servant’s debt, the king forgave him. Although this was an example of hyperbole, Peter would have understood. The point being that Peter had been forgiven much by God and because of that, he was expected to forgive others; no matter how many times.

 

We don’t know what prompted Peter to ask his question. It sounds like he may have been trying to find the path of least resistance. Or, earlier in Matthew 18, we read that the disciples had argued about who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Maybe Peter was holding a grudge towards someone he’d argued with.

 

Whatever the situation, like Peter, we have been forgiven our debt. A debt so big that there’s no way we could ever repay it. It’s millions! And yet, our heavenly Father did just that through the death and resurrection of His one and only son.

 

Just like Jesus taught his disciples to pray, now it’s our turn to forgive others as we have been forgiven.

 

¹² And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6 NIV

 

But, like Peter, sometimes it’s not easy.

 

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams

 

God’s Grace Changes Lives

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Thessalonians%202%3A13-17&version=NIV;GNT

 

Jesus told a great story about the unforgiving servant. In it, a servant who owed his master 10,000 talents (over $12 billion in today’s money) begged for grace and mercy. The king forgave the whole debt.

 

The same servant then turned around and demanded that a fellow servant pay back what he was owed – almost $12,000 in today’s money. Instead of showing his fellow servant mercy and grace, he had him thrown in prison.

 

The Thessalonian church was being severely persecuted, so they were dealing with serious struggles. Paul encouraged the Thessalonian believers to first stand firm in the face of their circumstances. Then he reminded them to show God’s grace to others in word and deed.

 

¹⁵ So then, our friends, stand firm and hold on to those truths which we taught you, both in our preaching and in our letter. ¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and in his grace gave us unfailing courage and a firm hope, ¹⁷ encourage you and strengthen you to always do and say what is good.             GNT

 

These words apply to us just the same as they did to the Thessalonian believers. Standing firm in the midst of struggles, temptations, and sinful desires is no less difficult today that it was then.

 

Showing God’s grace in our daily life is also hard. Just try to show God’s grace to the guy who cuts you off in traffic; to the neighbor who yells at you because of your dog; to your spouse or children who don’t meet your expectations; to a co-worker who is annoying. But God’s grace changes lives.

 

John Newton was a slave trader who lived most of his early life at sea. Newton had a reputation for profanity, coarseness, and debauchery. During a fierce storm he had a conversion experience that changed his life. He became a minister and years later wrote the song “Amazing Grace”. He was also very influential in the abolition movement in England.

 

Which character do you identify with in Jesus’ story of the unforgiving servant? Do you find yourself more often judging others like the servant, or showing grace like the master? We are called to become more like the master.

 

God’s grace changes lives. Has it changed yours?