By Craig L. Blomberg
Read: Matthew 18:21-35
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (Matt. 18:35 NIV)
Stan stomped out of my office, shouting, “You just don’t know what my father was like. I cannot forgive him. I will not forgive him.”
Human beings, tragically, excel at hurting others, and forgiveness at times seems impossible. Just think of atrocities in war, or terrible crimes like murder or rape, or even prolonged verbal abuse.
Jesus tells a story about a man, the equivalent of a billionaire in his world, whose enormous debts were entirely written off. The man, however, turned around and failed to offer even an ounce of mercy to a man who owed him several thousand dollars — hardly a trifle, but insignificant in comparison with the billionaire’s debt.
When word got back to the king who had forgiven the debt, an abrupt about-face occurred. The debt’s forgiveness was rescinded and the debtor thrown in prison.
Readers recognize that Jesus is talking about how much God has forgiven every one of us. Nothing someone else can do to hurt us comes close.
We can debate whether Jesus is teaching that salvation can be forfeited. But his lesson is clear: forgiven people forgive. It may not be easy, and it may take time and require help.
Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation, which requires two people to respond properly. But we should never refuse even to make the effort if we grasp how much God has already forgiven us in Christ.
—————
Craig L. Blomberg is the Distinguished Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Denver Seminary. He has written or edited more than 30 books, including a recently revised and expanded commentary on Matthew. He teaches regularly in churches, including his home church of Centennial Covenant in Littleton, Colo. He and his wife Fran have two daughters and three grandchildren.
Read: Matthew 18:21-35
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (Matt. 18:35 NIV)
Stan stomped out of my office, shouting, “You just don’t know what my father was like. I cannot forgive him. I will not forgive him.”
Human beings, tragically, excel at hurting others, and forgiveness at times seems impossible. Just think of atrocities in war, or terrible crimes like murder or rape, or even prolonged verbal abuse.
Jesus tells a story about a man, the equivalent of a billionaire in his world, whose enormous debts were entirely written off. The man, however, turned around and failed to offer even an ounce of mercy to a man who owed him several thousand dollars — hardly a trifle, but insignificant in comparison with the billionaire’s debt.
When word got back to the king who had forgiven the debt, an abrupt about-face occurred. The debt’s forgiveness was rescinded and the debtor thrown in prison.
Readers recognize that Jesus is talking about how much God has forgiven every one of us. Nothing someone else can do to hurt us comes close.
We can debate whether Jesus is teaching that salvation can be forfeited. But his lesson is clear: forgiven people forgive. It may not be easy, and it may take time and require help.
Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation, which requires two people to respond properly. But we should never refuse even to make the effort if we grasp how much God has already forgiven us in Christ.
—————
Craig L. Blomberg is the Distinguished Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Denver Seminary. He has written or edited more than 30 books, including a recently revised and expanded commentary on Matthew. He teaches regularly in churches, including his home church of Centennial Covenant in Littleton, Colo. He and his wife Fran have two daughters and three grandchildren.
