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Matthew 18:23-27 (GNB)
There was a king who decided to check on his servants' accounts...one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, .... The servant fell on his knees before the king. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay you everything!' The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go.
Yesterday, we studied about how our understanding and appreciation of the great love, kindness and mercy that God has shown us in Christ produces good works in us and causes us to live in a way that pleases God. Today, we shall focus on how we must also allow our understanding of God’s great love and mercy towards us to produce good works towards our neighbours also.
Before Jesus gave the parable in our text above, He was teaching His disciples about forgiveness. Can you believe that the same servant that was forgiven a debt worth millions of dollars immediately went out to grab and choke the neck of his friend who only owed him a few dollars? He refused to extend the same grace and mercy to his friend that he had just pled for. In fact, he even had his friend thrown into jail, Matt.18:28-31 (GNB)!
When the king heard about it, he summoned the servant and scolded him harshly for being wicked and unreasonable towards his fellow man after receiving such great mercy and kindness himself. The king eventually sent this servant to be jailed and punished until he paid back the millions of dollars he previously owed. Child of God, just as it was unreasonable for this servant to refuse to show mercy to his fellow man, it is similarly unreasonable for extend wickedness unto others after God has shown us so much love and mercy in Christ. We must forgive others just as God forgives us, Matt.6:12. We must show love and mercy unto others as God has shown us love and mercy in Christ.
PRAYER FOCUS: I thank you, Father, for the great love and mercy You have shown me in Christ. Help me to love others and be merciful to them.
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