110
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
March, 1934
had no desire to forgive even the first time. In the third place, Peter’s question re veals that whatever forgiveness he may have granted, it was nevertheless only a partial forgiveness, for it recalled the past. When God forgives, that is the end of the matter. His present forgiveness is granted as fully and freely as though there had never been any previous occasions for for giveness. Jesus’ answer to Peter’s question is most striking and illuminating (v. 22). It re veals the perfection of forgiveness. The expression, “seventy times seven,” speaks o f infinite forgiveness—complete and per fect-covering all time and extending to all circumstances. There is to be no limit whatsoever to the number o f times'the o f fender may be forgiven. The natural heart, that o f the legalist, quickly rises in rebel lion against such teaching, but the natural heart is enmity with God, and it desires the very opposite o f that which God requires. . Forgiveness is not only to be without limit as to the number o f times it is grant ed, but also it is to be given graciously; that is, without recalling to mind what the past hojds. In the final analysis, it is grace which.is needed in order to forgive an other, and it is in grace that the Lord deals. He would have His own children to be like Himself—dealing in grace to all. The lesson to be learned is this: What is needed in the present age, as in Peter’s day, is that the disciples o f the Lord Jesus Christ shall manifest the grace o f God— grace which is ready" to surrender its rights and to forgive in unlimited measure. II. T h e I llustration (23-35). The Lord then spoke a parable (vs. 23- 27). A certain king would “take account” or “make settlement with” his servants. Among those servants was one who owed the king “ten thousand talents”—an im possible amount which seemed hopeless for the debtor to attempt to pay. Indeed, the servant “had not to pay”".; he was bank rupt. Hence, the command went forth to sell him, his wife, his children, and all that he had, in order that the debt might be paid. But the servant humbled himself and begged for an extension of time, promising that, if time were granted, he would pay all. The servant’s pleading touched with compassion the heart o f the king, who free ly forgave the whole debt, freeing the ser vant o f every obligation. This is the way our Lord forgives, and this is the manner in which He would have His followers show forgiveness. Such a method necessarily becomes a test for the forgiven one, as the remainder o f the story reveals. The forgiven debtor, in the parable, also had a debtor (vs. 28- 30). This second debtor, because his obli gation was comparatively small, would have had good hope o f final settlement, if he had been given time. But his creditor would not extend to him even a portion of the forgiveness that he himself had re ceived, nor would he show to the unfor tunate one the grace with which he himself had been treated. The Lord’s gracious dealings with His- children always serve to test them in the matter o f their own forgiveness o f their fellow men. We should act in grace to ward others as He has acted in grace to ward us. What God gives, He desires to have passed on. But we must be careful not to confuse the teaching o f verses 31 to 35 with legalism. The Lord does not wait to see how we act before He acts. He forgives any one who, in penitence, seeks forgive
ness, and He desires the forgiven one to act in the same gracious manner to all others. We are to remember that forgiveness that is shown here is conditional, governmental, providential—not absolute and uncondi tional as is that which is shown in the Gos pel of John. Points and Problems 1. It is rather unfortunate that verses 15 to 17 were not included in the printed text from this chapter, for both sections deal with the problem o f one brother sin ning against another. Verses 15 to 17 tell how the unrepentant brother who sins should be dealt with by men on earth. Verses 21 to 35 tell how the unforgiving brother who is sinned against will bje dealt with by the Father in heaven. There is dis cipline both from man and God. Man can deal with the sinning brother, because the act o f sin is something concrete which men can see and judge. But only God can dis cern the unforgiving heart. Therefore, He must deal with that. 2. Some have argued that there is no grace in the section covered by verses 21 to 35, but that the forgiveness here is wholly on a legalistic basis. This asser tion is not supported by the. passage itself. In the first place, man’s forgiveness seems to be made a matter o f grace. Peter indeed had the legalistic notion when he came Avith his question: “How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him ? till seven times?” And in this, Peter is above the rabbinical limit, which was three times. The Lord’s answer, “seventy times seven,” lifts the matter out o f the realm of legalism entirely— forgiveness is to be without limit. 3. But what about God’s forgiveness? Is that not placed on a legalistic basis in the parable? At first sight, it would seem that way. But let the reader notice that, as our Lord paints the picture, the servant in question was first forgiven entirely o f his own debt by the Lord without any payment whatsoever (v. 27). Certainly, this is grace. And in verses 32 and 33, it is clear ly taught that the, servant should have for given his fellow servant as he himself had already been forgiven, which points for ward to Colossians 3 :13: “ Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” But suppose the servant refuses to forgive in accord with the spirit of grace ? The answer is that the truly saved soul will forgive (1 John. 3 :9). The soul that persists in the unforgiving heart, or in any other course o f continued sin, has never been born of God (1 John 3:10). And upon such the penalty of Matthew 18:34, 35 will fall just ly. The man who rejects grace in favor of law will himself be judged by the law. 4. No man has ever been saved by works, and no man ever will be saved by works, either in this age or in the age to come, in the church or in the kingdom. “ By works of law shall no flesh be justified” (Rom. 3:20, R.V.,margin). But the evidence of salvation by grace is “good works” (Eph. 2:8, 9 with 10). “He that saith, I know him, and k.eepeth not his commandments, is a liar” (1 John 2:4 ). And all liars are doomed to the lake o f fire. Certainly, the man who claims to be saved “by grace,” and yet has no grace in his own heart and conduct, is a liar o f the worst kind, a moral liar, who actually turns the grace of God into license for continued sin (Jude 4). Golden Text Illustration I do not know how true this story may be, but I do know that it illustrates a won derful truth. We are told by the biographer o f Leonardo da Vinci that during the days
T he P r e s b y t e r i a n BANNER JAMES H. SNOWDEN, EDITOR
Widely recognized as invaluable in laymen's Christian living and ministers' Christian thinking. Its contributors are thinking men, alert to the issues of the day . . . and true to the essentials of the Faith. Modern in appearance; stimulating and national in Church news; vital in editorials, in devo tional material and in contribu tions from leaders in Am e r i c a n Christianity. A Christian Weekly: $2.50 a year, to ministers $2. Sample copy on request. • The Presbyterian Banne r Commonwealth Bldg. Pittsburgh, Pa. Now You Can Wear FALSE TEETH With Real Comfort FASTEETH , a new, pleasant, powder, keeps teeth firmly set. Deodorizes. No gummy, gooey, pasty taste or feeling. To .eat and laugh in comfort just sprinkle a little FASTEETH on your plates. Get it today at any drug store.
W H I T E P IP E -T O N E F O L D IN G O R G A N S Best ever made. In use all over the world for #more than 30 years. Various styles and sizes. Free catalogue.
A. L. AVHITE MFG. CO.
Dept. K. 215 Enolewood Ave.
CHICAGO. ILL.
KINDLY MENT ION THE K IN G 'S BUSINESS UNION LESSON HELPS on the Uniform Lessons are Biblical, practical and attractive A typical comment ‘‘Your periodicals have in no wise departed “ °ni 'the faith once delivered,' but have kept their spiritual tone, and are true to the Word of God. We are particularly well pleased with ‘i1® tractive make-up in which your -various publications are appearing. In every case your publications are attractive and practical." Write for free specimen copies American Sunday-School Union 1816 Chestnut St. - Philadelphia, Pa.
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online