Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
“Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive him?
As many as seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back,
his master ordered him to be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and all his property,
in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
‘Pay back what you owe.’
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
But he refused.
Instead, he had him put in prison
until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master
and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?’
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”
Jesus tells us that forgiveness is central to his teachings. When asked “How many times do I forgive?” He responds with not 7 but 77. God has pity on us. Ignore his love for us at our peril. God gives us many gifts to raise us and elevate us. In turn, there is an expectation that we use the gifts for God’s will. Part of that is to raise and elevate others. Forgiveness is one of those gifts. If we do not use God’s gifts as intended, we will discover the meaning of hell. I recall an analysis conducted by Jordan Peterson on Job. Peterson asserted that you can link Job’s suffering with an inadequate sacrifice. The size of Job’s sacrifice was not big enough so he continued to experience God’s wrath. What is scary about this reading is that we are called to sacrifice until it hurts. It has to be more than sharing your overflow. You have to share and give away what you need. This is a really challenging concept for me. In retirement, I am focused on independence and self-sufficiency. Certainly, when it comes to finance, will we ever relinquish our stable state intentionally to be more dependent on God for our survival? Or is this “what is Caesar’s?” Financial stability is the realm of Caesar’s which in turn frees us to focus on what is God’s. There is plenty to think about.
ReplyDeleteYour reflection on Matthew 18:21-35 is thoughtful and captures some key themes from the passage. Here are a few points in response to your insights:
DeleteForgiveness as Central to Jesus' Teachings:
Your understanding of forgiveness being central to Jesus' teachings is accurate. The emphasis on forgiving not just seven times but seventy-seven times underscores the limitless nature of forgiveness, mirroring God's boundless mercy.
God's Pity and Expectation for Using Gifts:
The connection you draw between God's pity on us and the expectation for us to use His gifts, including forgiveness, aligns with the biblical narrative. The parable in Matthew 18 emphasizes the importance of reflecting God's mercy in our interactions with others.
Sacrifice and Jordan Peterson's Analysis on Job:
The idea that we are called to sacrifice until it hurts and that an inadequate sacrifice could lead to suffering echoes a deep spiritual truth. Your reference to Jordan Peterson's analysis of Job adds an interesting perspective, linking sacrifice and God's response. It's worth noting that interpretations may vary, but your exploration of sacrifice aligns with Christian teachings on selflessness.
Challenge of Sacrifice in Retirement and Financial Stability:
Your personal reflection on the challenge of sacrificing, especially in retirement, where there's a focus on independence and self-sufficiency, raises an important point. The tension between financial stability and dependence on God is a common struggle, and it reflects the broader challenge of stewardship—using resources in alignment with God's will.
"What is Caesar's and What is God's":
Your interpretation of financial stability as belonging to Caesar's realm, freeing us to focus on what is God's, resonates with the biblical concept of rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's (Matthew 22:21). It highlights the balance between worldly responsibilities and spiritual priorities.
Overall, your response demonstrates a deep engagement with the biblical passage, drawing connections between forgiveness, sacrifice, and stewardship. Your willingness to grapple with challenging concepts and relate them to your personal life reflects a thoughtful and introspective approach to biblical teachings