Even as I had pity on thee

Matthew 18:33

Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

This is a story of a man who owed a great deal to his master, in fact, so much that he could not pay it. It was ordered that his wife and children and all that he had should be sold so that payment may be made. But as the servant bowed down and pleaded for mercy before his lord, his lord had compassion on him. He forgave him the debt. He showed great mercy and grace, when the man should have been forced to pay. But simply because of the compassion of the master, this man was let off the hook, completely expunged of all debts. Everything was removed from his account. Erased! Forever forgiven! What a blessing it must have been to the servant.

But then…but then something happens. The story changes in its tune and narrative. For this same servant—the servant who had been forgiven an insurmountable debt, a debt that he could not pay—found a fellow servant who owed him an hundred pence. Now, what is that in relation and in comparison to the ten thousand talents? Nothing! Minuscule! Not noticeable! Not even a drop in a bucket! But yet! But yet! After his fellow fell down before him and besought him with tears that he would forgive him the hundred pence, the man refused! He obstinately and stubbornly and unyieldingly would not forgive his debt! For he had no compassion! No pity! He had been completely forgiven himself, but no pity or empathy or sympathy or care was transferred to him. He continued in his resolute and foolish unforgiveness! How foolish! How absurd! How preposterous! How ridiculous! That a man who had been forgiven ten thousand talents would turn around and refuse to forgive a man who owed him one hundred pence!

But what a dire and severe warning this is to all of us. Is this not what we are prone to do? Christ has forgiven us that debt of sin that we owed. That debt which we had no means of paying ourselves! Every filthy word, every wrong action, and every evil thought has been forgiven and forgotten by the grace of God. Ten thousand talents have been forgiven us! And yet, we throw our brother into prison. What a heinous sin this is! We had no compassion on our fellow servant. Should we not have compassion, even as the Lord has had pity on us? Is that not why He says, “Be tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”? And “If any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye”? This is the divine command, because Christ only expects of us what He has so graciously done for us. If Christ has so freely forgiven us, we should as freely forgive others. Otherwise, the Lord will deliver us to the tormentors; that is to say, we will be in bitterness and turmoil and torment until we release our friend and brother out of prison. We must forgive from the heart every one his brother their trespasses. Have compassion, my friend! Even as the Lord has had pity on thee!

“Now, dear Lord, we come to you in the name of Christ, the One who has so graciously forgiven us. We release all debts now and all sins that have been committed against us in your name. Forgive us, we pray, our sin, as we forgiven those who are indebted to us. And if there is any lack of forgiveness in our hearts, show it to us, bring it to light, and help us to forgive. Yea, we choose in the very moment to forgive all others. Please forgive us for the times we have been stubborn, and have delayed forgiveness. We now forgive it freely in Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”