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TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
December, 1939
JANUARY 14, 1940 THE PROBLEM OF FORGIVENESS M a t t h e w 18:15 to 19:30
M a tth e w 18 :21 T h e n c am e P e te r to him « a n d s a id , L o rd , h o w o f t s h a ll m y b r o th e r s in a g a i n s t m e , a n d I f o r g iv e h im ? t i l l s e v e n tim e s ? 22 J e s u s e a ith u n to h im , 1 s a y n o t u n to th e e , U n til s e v e n tifn e s s b u t, U n til s e v e n ty tim e s s e v e n . 23 T h e re f o r e is th e k in g d o m o f h e a v e n lik e n e d u n to a c e r ta in k in g , w h ic h w o u ld t a k e a c c o u n t o f h is s e r v a n ts . 24 A n d w h e n h e h a d b e g u n to r e c k o n , o n e w a s b r o u g h t u n to h im , w h ic h ow e d h im te n th o u s a n d ta le n ts . 25 B u t f o ra s m u c h a s h e h a d n o t to p a y , h is lo r d c o m m a n d e d h im t o b e so ld , a n d h is w ife , a n d c h ild re n , a n d a l l t h a t h e h a d , a n d p a y m e n t to b e m a d e . 26 T h e s e r v a n t th e r e f o r e fe ll d ow n , a n d w o rs h ip p e d h im , s a y in g , L o rd , h a v e p a tie n c e w ith m e, a n d I w ill p a y th e e a ll. . 27 T h e n t h e lo rd o f t h a t s e r v a n t w a s m o v e d w ith c o m p a s s io n , a n d lo o s e d h im , a n d f o r g a v e h im th e d e b t.
2 8 B u t th e s a m e s e r v a n t w e n t • o u t, a n d fo u n d o n e o f h is fe llo w s e r v a n ts , w h ic h o w e d h im a h u n d r e d p e n c e : a n d h e la id h a n d s o n h im , a n d to o k h im b y th e th r o a t, s a y in g , P a y m e t h a t th o u o w e s t. 29 A n d -his fe llo w s e r v a n t fe ll d o w n a t h is f e e t, a n d b e s o u g h t h im , s a y in g , H a v e p a tie n c e w ith m e , a n d I w ill p a y th e e a ll. 30 A n d h e w o u ld n o t: b u t w e n t a n d c a s t b im in to p ris o n , t i l l h e s h o u ld p a y th e d e b t. 31 So w h e n h is fe llo w s e r v a n ts s a w w h a t w a s d o n e , th e y w e re v e r y s o rry , a n d c am e a n d to ld u n to t h e ir lo r d a l l t h a t w a s d o n e . 32 T h e n h is lo rd , a f t e r t h a t h e h a d c a lle d h im , s a id u n to h im , O th o u w ic k e d s e r v a n t, I fo r g a v e th e e a ll t h a t d e b t, b e c a u s e th o u d e s ir e d s t m e : 33 S h o u ld e s t n o t th o n a ls o h a v e h a d c o m p a s s io n o n th y fe llo w s e r v a n t, e v e n a s I h a d p it y o n th e e ? 34 A n d h is lo r d w a s w r o th , a n d d e liv e r e d h im to th e to rm e n to r s , ti l l h e s h o u ld p a y a ll t h a t w a s d u e n n to h im . 35 So lik e w is e s h a ll m y h e a v e n ly F a t h e r do a ls o u n to y o n , if y e fr o m y o n r h e a r t s f o r g iv e n o t e v e ry " o n e h is b r o th e r t h e i r tr e s p a s s e s . LE SSO N T E X T : M a tt. 18 :21 -3 5. G O LD EN T E X T : “ F o r g iv e u s o u r d e b ts, a s w e f o r g iv e o u r d e b to r s ” (M a tt. 6 :1 2 ). D EV O T IO N A L R E A D IN G : P s a . 32 :1 -5 . Outline and Exposition I. T h e I n s t r u c t io n (21, 22) y-|-«^HE PARABLES concerning' the kingdom of heaven reveal the 1 qualifications and privileges of those who are already in the kingdom; they do not present the pathway into the kingdom. They reveal what the citi zens should be and do. Hence the for“The ages were outlined by the Word of God” (Heb. 11:3 Lit. Gr.). giveness to which reference Is here made is conditional, befitting the character of the Gospel according to Matthew which deals particularly with the King and the kingdom. The question, "How oft shall . . . I forgive?” (v. 21) shows a blindness to the need of forgiveness on the question er’s part. Peter did not think of his own need of forgiveness, but only of the debt owed to him by another. The question also reveals the legal spirit actuating any forgiveness- that might be granted, because the reference to “seven times” implies that past offenses were remem bered, which in turn suggests a system of bookkeeping! This attitude is Wholly opposed to the exercise of grace. True forgiveness buries all the past, whatever it might contain. Our Lord’s answer presents the per fection of forgiveness. Forgiveness is to be unlimited; there is never to be a time when forgiveness is refused the penitent one. Furthermore, the forgiveness is to he given graciously, that is, without re calling any of the already-covered past. It often involves the foregoing of per sonal rights, on the part of the one who forgives. Furthermore, each appeal for forgiveness is to be answered as though it were the first appeal. This is the principle of God’s forgive ness—infinite, impartial, and all-inclu- shje. I t is gracious, not because of what
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1939 ChristianWorkers’ Coursé A Scriptural Study Each Wcck—j j Lessons A practical* effective course in methods of Christian work and soul-winning. Send 15c in stamps for current issue. KRISTIAN PUBUCATI0N5.1NC 1.515 Third S tr ee t —
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Bible students everywhere recognize that a knowledge of dispensational truth is the key to a proper ;understanding of. the Bible. Clifton L. Fowler, in this valuable work just published,-shows in easily followed steps how the dispensations are built from the Word of God/ This book is appearing at the present time in serial form in “Grace and Truth.’* Read what a pastor says about these studies: I am delighted with “Grace and Truth,” and .deeply appreciate this series (“ Building .' the Dispensations**) that Rey. Fowler has prepared. This is one of the best he has given us, and so many are interested. —Dr. R. S. Beal, Pastor, Tucson. Arizona “GRACE AND TRUTH ,’’ “the topical Bible study magazine of America," with its unique topical arrangement, has been, as one subscriber put it, “a veritable Bible study course” to its subscribers throughout its seventeen years of publi
cation. Each month a dif ferent Bible" study topic ;s • dealt with, and all the articles group around that particular subject. Pastors and Christian workers find this invaluable. It contains an unusually fine and thorough Sunday-school lesson department (using the International Sunday - school Lessons), enthusiastically ac claimed by Sunday - school teachers far and wide. It also has many other valuable de partments including a young people’s page and a page of outlines valuable to the pas tor and young people’s group. Subscribe now to this val uable magazine and receive your copy of “Building the Dispensations.” The subscrip tion price is $1.50 per year. This offer is good till Jan. 1, 1940. Address: Denver Bible Institute Press, Dept. K-12, Best* 1617, Denver, Colorado.
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