"Tell me a Story” is a simple and shorter way to reference Jesus' use of parables. A parable is a relatable way to share a moral or spiritual lesson. While some don’t like parables because they don’t get right to the point. Others love a good story because it forces us to think and question.
Like the story I read recently...
There’s a story of a traveler to Myanmar (Burma). As they were making their way through the jungles, they came upon a shallow but wide river. They waded through slowly. When they exited the river the traveler noticed that he had numerous leeches attached to his torso and his legs. His first instinct was to pull them off. But the guide stopped him by warning that pulling the leeches off would only leave tiny pieces under the skin and eventually infection would set in. The man, frustrated, asked what he should do. The guide advised the best way to get rid of the leeches was to soak in a warm balsam bath for several minutes. The soaked leeches would quickly release their hold on the man’s body.
The moral of the story relates to our lives because in the flow of this life we will be hurt by others. We can simply remove the person, place or thing quickly but hurt left unexamined leaves bitterness, malice and emotions under the surface to fester and infect the rest of our lives. The only way to truly be free of an offense is to bathe in the soothing remembrance of God’s forgiveness of me. When I fathom the extent of God’s love in Jesus Christ, forgiveness of others is the natural result.
Storytelling forges connections among people, between people and ideas, and they convey the culture, history, and values. You just have to love a well thought out short story. Jesus told 36 different short stories in the gospels.
Today, I’d like to tell you a story you can find at the end of Matt 18. Jesus was hanging out with the disciples. They had just asked who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and Jesus used the little children as an example of faithful servant to turn the world’s values upside down. He then emphasized the point by suggesting the best way to handle those who failed in this pursuit. It’s an incredible moment which must have struck a nerve in Peter because he asked about forgiveness and what should our response be to those who harm us intentionally or indirectly. This is where we pick up the biblical story.
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.
I really love impetuous Peter. He makes serious mistakes himself on a regular basis and then has the arrogant righteousness to ask Jesus how many times do I need to forgive others. We know from the scriptures, where there is love, there can be no limits (Eph 3:17-19). Peter probably thought he was showing great humility by more than doubling the current rabbinic stance of three. However, Jesus expected more from those who follow Him. The number itself didn’t matter. It was a call to forgive and as Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 13:5 - love keeps no record of wrongs. Jesus would emphasize this point with a story. Let’s continue...
23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
The story begins with a servant owing a ridiculous amount of money. In today’s terms it might be close to 10 or 15 million dollars. The average person hearing this story would be in shock at the amount. It was probably more than a whole community could repay so when the servant begged to repay it, everyone knew it would be impossible. Jesus is using hyperbole to get the peoples attention and emphasize the need to forgive one another. But he doesn’t stop there.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
Justice is a two way street. When we receive it, we should be willing to give it. It's such an interesting point that while the king originally gives freedom, the servant’s action puts him back in. We do this all the time. There was a comedian from years ago who used to say anyone going faster than you was crazy and anyone slower than you was a jerk. The natural inclination is to judge and condemn the world by our wants and needs when God calls us to live by His. The key to which comes in the next verse.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
It's those final three words of this scripture that illuminate the entire passage.
An elderly man, whose father was a pastor, asked me in an ALPHA group, “How many times will God forgive my sins in this life? When does His the forgiveness end?” After a little bit of silence, I asked the group to recite the Lord’s prayer. It’s the prayer you probably heard before. Jesus taught his disciples a pattern for prayer. Let’s say it together:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Let's discuss Jesus words, “forgives us our trespasses as we forgive others.” Interesting for its circular nature, but also it’s a command to forgive.
Jesus dives in a little more forcibly in Mark 11:25 when Jesus says, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
I want to make sure we all understand that this level of forgiveness is between two brothers or sisters in the Lord. It is a teaching about how we are to live life in community with one another. There are five clear points to the story.
There is a power in forgiveness. Peter and I working on a new podcast with this as it's title.
God’s forgiveness is not temporary. It is forever. The cross gives you freedom from sins of the past, present and future should you accept it.
Radical forgiveness is for the people who claim to hold the same values and principles. It can be used as a way to deal with outside the faith but we must not be surprised by their unwillingness to return the favor. However, we are commanded to forgive to further the kingdom.
God is warning us to live together with humble and repentant hearts. Where there is pride and desire for revenge, there can be no true repentance. We must forgive those who trespass us and he has forgiven us.
In the case of this servant, he was simply glad to be off the hook for his crimes against his master. He had never really repented. His lack of sincerity would become his stumbling block and his judge.
In the end, Forgiveness is giving to others what God has already given to us. By forgiving others, we are acknowledging our understanding of God's love for us and living it out with our brothers and sisters.
As the apostle Paul wrote in support of these practices:
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Eph 4:32)
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Col. 3:13)
