Understanding God's Grace in Forgiveness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Bible Verses~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Matthew 18:23 For this reason the kingdom of the heavens has
become like a king who desired to settle accounts with his
slaves. (24) And when he began to settle them, one who owed
him ten thousand talents was brought to him. (25) But since
he did not have the means to repay, the master commanded him
to be sold, as well as his wife and children and all that he
had, and repayment to be made. (26) Then the slave fell down
and worshipped him, saying, Be patient with me and I will
repay you all. (27) And the master of that slave was moved
with compassion and released him and forgave him the loan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Words of Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The slave owed ten thousand talents, which was a very large
amount of money. He had no ability to repay. We can never
repay all that we owe God. It is far more than what men owe
us. Once a child of God arrives at a proper evaluation of his
debt to God, he will generously forgive what his brother owes
him. When we forget the immensity of the grace we have
received from God, we become merciless toward others. We need
to see how much we owe God before we can see how little
others owe us.
It is difficult for man to understand clearly what grace is
and what the gospel is. Man often thinks that he may not be
able to repay today, but that he will be able to repay
someday. He may not make it today, but he will make it
someday. In these verses, however, we see a slave who, even
if he were to sell all that he had, would not have had enough
to repay. He said, "Be patient with me and I will repay you
all." His intention was good. He was not trying to avoid his
debt. He was only asking the Lord for more time. He intended
to repay all. Such a thought can only come from those who
have no knowledge of grace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible
and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, Messages for
Building Up New Believers, pp.348-349. Both are published by
Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
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