Greg calls us into the Jesus way of forgiveness, contrasting it with the way of bitterness. He does this by explaining the parable of the unforgiving servant, as he helps us to see the inherent destructive forces that control our lives when we choose unforgiveness toward those who do us harm.
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The Way of Forgiveness
• Greg Boyd
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This sermon by Greg Boyd on forgiveness expounds upon the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18. It is broken into three parts. First, there is an explanation on the nature of parables in the New Testament. Secondly, Greg explains the meaning of this specific parable. Third, at the end of this parable is a difficult verse which Greg explains.
First, let’s consider the way that parables work. They are a bit like jokes, in which the punch line is the primary point. Everything else is merely a prop that revolves around the punch line. Therefore, we must not get caught up in the meaning of the details of the story and instead focus on the central meaning itself.
Turning this to the parable above, the focus lies on the need to forgive others. Peter asked how many times we should forgive. Seven seems excessive, but Jesus says seven times 70, which means there is not a limit to the number of times we must forgive. This is a radical teaching, of which there are no parallels.
In the parable itself, we learn that the king forgave his servant’s debt which is the modern equivalent of six billion dollars. However, the servant turned around and required the repayment of someone who only owed him about one hundred dollars. Even though he had received forgiveness, he did not offer it. When the king heard about this, he had him captured and tortured until he could pay back his previously-forgiven debt.
Then Jesus says, “So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart” (Matthew 18:35). This is a troubling passage, because on the surface it looks like Jesus is saying that God is like the fickle king. First, we must keep in mind that we must read the Scripture through the lens of Jesus on the cross. This—Jesus on the cross—is what God looks like. And if that is the case, then this passage must have a deeper meaning to it.
This deeper meaning is found when we understand the ancient figure of speech called “metonymy of the subject.” An author uses this figure of speech when they describe the subject as doing something, but in fact they are not acting directly. Instead the direct action is done by others. The subject of the sentence sets us the rules for how the action takes place. In this case, God is said act like the king when we don’t forgive, but in fact, God has merely designed unforgiveness in such a way that it naturally leads to imprisonment and torture. God, the Creator, has set up the world such that, if people refuse to forgive, it invites disastrous consequences. In letting us go down the path of unforgiveness, the Father is handing us over to tormentors, allowing us to come under the power of evil that we invite into our life when we refuse to forgive.
Forgiveness does not mean reconciliation. Nor does it mean that we are diminishing the seriousness of the offense. It means that we release the debt of the one who has wronged us. In other words, we are not letting that other person have power over us. When we fail to do this, we will be caught in the trap of bitterness and it will fester in our lives to the point of crippling our souls. Therefore, the way of the Kingdom is the way of letting go of others and refusing to hold on to that bitterness. And thus we find freedom, the freedom to walk in God’s love.
Hide Extended SummaryTopics: Forgiveness, Relationships
Sermon Series: Walk the Way, Wholehearted
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The MuseCast: July 15
Focus Scripture:
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Matthew 18:21-35
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him, and, as he could not pay, the lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
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"Thank you all the way from Oregon. I deeply appreciate being shepherded by Pastor Greg and everyone else on the panels. You are a rare find in the church nowadays. Tackling tough questions with humility and a kingdom perspective. It has been life changing for me in such tumultuous times."
– Heather, from Oregon
When I need to forgive someone who made me angry, I re-remember the time and place, but this time I picture Jesus in the picture. He has helped me more than once and any angry is gone. I have to remember my battles are not against flesh and blood, Thank you Jesus for all you have done for and with me.