Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?

 

 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

 

- Matthew 18:21–35 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught the disciples:  "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.  For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.  What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?  And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'  And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.  Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." 

 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."   My study Bible tells us that seventy times seven is symbolic of an unlimited amount (seven is a number symbolizing fullness; seventy multiples such fullness).  This is a parable which teaches the need for unlimited forgiveness.  Ten thousand talents is what my study Bible calls an impossible sum; it is more than any laborer could earn in many lifetimes.  A hundred denarii is a small number by comparison but still remains a significant amount by earthly standards -- my study Bible says it amounts to about three months' wages for a contemporary worker.  But it is a pittance compared to the debt which was owed to the king.  It notes that God not only stays the punishment we deserve, but forgives us the entire debt as well.  Because God forgives us, we are in turn required to grant the gift of forgiveness to others.  There is another patristic interpretation of this parable given, with regard to the punishment described.  In that interpretation, the man represents the soul, the wife represents the body, and the children represent a person's works or deeds.  So therefore, the body and the deeds are given over to slavery -- to Satan, so that the soul might possibly be saved (see 1 Corinthians 5:5). 

There are various places where Jesus teaches us the importance of forgiveness, and most notably how much it is required of us.  In the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:8-15), we pray, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors," indicating not simply mutual forgiveness but that since this prayer is in the plural ("Our" Father), we're also praying for the forgiveness of others.  Notably, Jesus adds the following statement in giving the prayer, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."  This addition is a clear affirmation of the teaching in today's parable, Christ's strong admonition regarding our own duties of forgiveness if we want to realize the forgiveness given to us.  The parable makes it clear that God's forgiveness is abounding and abundant, and we are to imitate God in this in order to realize our own.  Note that the teaching does not ask us to be a doormat; in context with the teaching on mutual correction in the Church found in yesterday's reading, the process of forgiveness also asks repentance of those who sin against others.  But what seems most significant are the staggering sums of forgiveness of debt in the parable, something which it is literally impossible for us to repay.  If we think about God's forgiveness, the vast need of such forgiveness is also not limited by time.  That is, as human beings prone to error and sin, we have a long way to go in terms of how we could possibly "qualify" to live in harmony with God in God's Kingdom.  Without forgiveness of sin, how would that even be possible?  Therefore the forgiveness of God, given in advance of any repentance on our part, is extraordinary.  However, in order to realize that forgiveness, we must go through our own process of repentance -- and especially in today's teaching by Jesus, our own exercise of forgiveness as well.  Forgiveness is a powerful way to re-establish trust when a trust has been broken; in effect, it is the only way to do so.  Therefore, as God invites us in to a communion with God even though we have strayed away from it and are always tempted to do so in a number of ways, we are continually invited back in.  The nature of a sinful or "fallen" world is simply a type of predetermination that we will sin, incorporating and learning sinful behavior and misleading thinking and habits from what is around us.  But God's forgiveness covers that, as God awaits our own "change of mind" (repentance) and return.  Therefore we are in turn asked to forgive and re-establish relationship or communion with others (a "brother") within the fullness of the communion with God, and the body of Christ (the Church).  While we realize the love and forgiveness on offer to us, our disposition should be to realize that as we are capable of such also.  Within a marriage, for example, such a disposition and habit must be understood as a bedrock for continued good relations in a bond which Jesus describes as "two become one flesh" (see Matthew 19:4-6; not coincidentally part of the text in tomorrow's Gospel reading).  But again, forgiveness is a process that has repentance as part of its structure.  Just as the bad servant realized the amount of his debt, and asked for patience, we also must recognize our own before forgiveness is extended.  Let us note also the phrase in the parable often associated with Jesus' actions:  the master was moved with compassion.  It's important to see that Christ asks us to do the same in turn, just as judgment will also be based on the exercise of this capacity for ourselves (see Matthew 25:31-45).  Moreover, we are to understand that God is offering forgiveness before we realize we need it, but we also must do our own "work" to realize it and receive it.  So it is with compassion and forgiveness; we may offer something as a disposition toward others, but there is a process to reconciliation that asks repentance as well.  In all things, we seek to please God above all, giving our circumstances and difficulties with others up to God for guidance through them.  Here we are given a model of what it is to forgive and what it is to withhold forgiveness even after repentance and the knowledge of our own forgiveness by God.  This is an understanding and attitude made in the heart, a teaching that comes from the love we're given by God to begin with, and hopefully we learn to grow in that love in the heart.  

I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven

Christ the Good Shepherd c. 425 AD, Mosaic, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

- Matthew 18:21-35

In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught His disciples, "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.  For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.  What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?  And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.  Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'  And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.  Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."  My study bible says this expression, seventy times seven, is symbolic of an unlimited amount.

"Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."  Ten thousand talents is described by my study bible as an impossible sum, more than a laborer could earn in several lifetimes.  A hundred denarii would be an important amount in a worldly perspective (about three months' wages, according to my study bible), but it's a tiny amount in comparison to the debt that was owed to the king.  In terms of our own "debts" as in the Lord's Prayer, God stays punishment and forgives the entire debt as well.  In turn, my study bible says, we are required to grant the gift of forgiveness to others.  Regarding the punishment first declared by the master ("his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made"), there is an additional spiritual interpretation found in patristic commentary.   In this perspective, the man represents the soul, the wife the body, and the children a person's works or deeds.  So therefore, in this punishment, the body and deeds are given over to slavery -- that is, to Satan -- so that the soul might possibly be saved (see 1 Corinthians 5:5).  This interpretation fits with the instructions that Christ gave in yesterday's reading for mutual correction in the Church, with separation from the Church as last resort -- a type of medicine to hopefully bring about reconsideration, repentance.

My study bible's mention of the spiritual interpretation of the punishment as initially given by the king is an interesting one, especially in light of the understanding from yesterday's reading -- that separation from the Church, as last resort for one who is unrepentant, is actually meant as corrective medicine.  In other words, such a state of separation, when all other means have failed, is thought to be the only experience that can bring about a reconsideration of one's acts, a change of mind (which is literally what the Greek word for repentance means).  In this case, we see that it immediately results in the repentance of the man who owed the king his huge sum, and he begs for forgiveness of the debt, and so immediately receives great mercy.  But his hardness of heart shows in his subsequent treatment of others, and so he eventually winds up with "torture" until all is paid, another symbolic representation of what it is to be cast out from the merciful life of the Kingdom and under the sway of the "ruler of this world."  Torture, after all, is what the devil does; the word for "evil" or "evil one" in the Greek (as used in the Lord's Prayer, when we pray "deliver us from evil") is πονηρός/poneros.  It literally means "pain" or "agony."  So what good could it possibly do, as in St. Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 5:5, to "deliver one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh"?  In some sense, it reminds us of the "tough love" sometimes used in interventions for addiction as a last resort -- as when family members are asked to stop supporting a lifestyle that contributes to addiction.  The resulting difficulties will hopefully encourage the addicted person to recognize and come to terms with the dire nature of their circumstances and truly seek healing.  As we are in a season of giving thanks in some countries (in the United States, the Thanksgiving holiday is next week), and a time historically associated with harvest festivals and looking toward the celebration of the birth of Christ, it might be a perfect time to think about all the merciful things we receive through our faith that are so often easily overlooked.   Each of us has particular experiences of our faith, but if one looks back upon the loving nature of God experienced through Christ, then we may truly want to consider what it means to be inside of this loving embrace, as contrasted with living without it.  Through prayer, we may find that the hardness we experience in the world is ameliorated by the experience of love and even confidence we find in private time with our Lord.  Within the context of our faith, we find good guidance for our lives, medicines for dealing with setbacks and hardship, like, for example, the prescription of humility which has so many surprising benefits to our whole orientation in life.  Outside of such a gracious spiritual influence, we might find a seemingly enticing but entirely different experience of life where this mercy is missing.  It's easy to take for granted the love of God, but far less so when one has experienced life without it.   Like the Prodigal Son, our times of "torture" or pain when we're off the path God would set for us may come to be a good corrective influence.  Without benefit of the loving nature of the One who would set out to rescue the single straying sheep, we may come to know life only through the hardness of heart that seems at times to define the worldly.  The popular psychologist Dr. Phil describes a proper home as "a soft place to fall."  Everybody may not have this kind of worldly home, but within the loving embrace of God and God's extended family of the communion of saints, we all truly have such a home for our hearts, living and present and spiritually holding us.   Our own experience of life really depends on our awareness and potential for this realization.  So many must experience life without it in order to return and understand its true worth to them.  Let us be thankful for the grace of love which waits for us all, and informs us in turn of our own capacity to share that mercy with others.

Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?

 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

"Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

- Matthew 18:21-35

 Over the past couple of readings, Jesus has been responding to the question from the disciples, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (see Wednesday's reading).  In yesterday's reading, Jesus told the disciples, "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.  For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.  What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one who is straying?  And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.  Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'  And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.  Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."   In yesterday's reading, Jesus gave instructions for mutual correction in the Church, teaching that first corrections should be made in private.  Peter then asks about forgiveness within this process.  Seventy times seven is a symbol of an unlimited amount. 

"Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."   My study bible explains that ten thousand talents is an impossible sum.  It is more than a laborer could earn in several lifetimes.  A hundred denarii is a significant amount from an earthly perspective (it is about three months' wages), but it's a pittance compared to the debt that is owed the king in this parable.  There is a spiritual interpretation to the parable also offered by some patristic writers.  Regarding the punishment described, the man represents the soul, the wife represents the body, and children represent a person's works.  So, the body and deeds are given over to slavery (or Satan) -- that is, excommunication to a worldly life without protection of Christ -- so that the soul might possibly be saved through repentance (see 1 Corinthians 5:5).  The point of this parable is to teach that God not only stays the punishment that we deserve, but forgives the entire debt in addition.  As God forgives us, so we are asked to grant the gift of forgiveness to others.

Let us consider repentance and what it means.  Sometimes it is only after going through hard times that a person begins to consider others and have sympathy or understanding for them.  Our culture values winning and success.  It really doesn't matter what end of the political spectrum or which social group one belongs to or values one espouses -- success within the eyes of a community becomes an important and coveted currency.  Experience teaches us that people will do all kinds of things, for all kinds of reasons, to gain such approval or success in the eyes of community.  And therein is the heart of Christ's message, it seems to me.  The Pharisees were the religious leaders of their time, and also perhaps the most righteous among the leadership.  Their code was fairly strict, and they held themselves to such high conduct.  But they are the ones who clash with Jesus.  Their self-righteousness and need for leadership position -- the regulatory role of the faith -- overcomes their capacity to see and hear what Christ is.  Their role in the story of Christ is a cautionary tale for all of us, because it is easy to play a role rather than honestly find the humility Christ asks of us in our lives.  Failure, on the other hand, is a kind of forced humility that has as a potential benefit the reckoning with an inner truth -- that our value and worth isn't based on the opinion of the world but rather on how we stand with God and how honest we are about who we are in that secret place with our Father who sees in secret.  (Practically all of chapter 6 relates to this struggle).  When we fail, we are faced with the question of coming to terms with real identity, and not merely all the things people say about us.   In yesterday's reading, Jesus speaks of Himself as the One who comes to seek that which is lost.  It is in our times of failure that we can most readily understand we are in need of His protection and guidance.  The unforgiving tortures that the world can give us serve to create an internal demand:  we are either going to find the truth of God's love for us or surrender to that slavish reality.  Let us understand not only the love God wants to give us, but rather the love God wishes to share with us so that we, in turn, share with others.  Don't jump on the bandwagon of social self-righteousness and vilification; rather seek the truth found in the secret place, the love found in the Kingdom.  It comes with self-knowledge of our own capacity for failure in the eyes of others, and a reckoning found in the righteousness of faith.  The Cross teaches us that what is real is in the depth of the soul; truth may be something hidden from the voices that seem to shout the loudest and condemn most harshly.  When everyone else seems to shout for blood, that is the time to step back and pray.  It is the great grace of the Savior's humility that teaches us about truth and righteousness.

Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?

 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

- Matthew 18:21-35

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued His discourse on the "little ones" (begun in Wednesday's reading after the disciples asked, "Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?").  He said,  "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.  For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.  What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?  And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."   Jesus then gave a system for mutual correction in the Church.  He said, "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'  And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.  Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."  Peter's question comes after Jesus' teaching about mutual correction in the Church.  Jesus gave a three-level system for addressing grievances or sins committed against another member of the Church (see above).  Peter's question is logical, given what Jesus has taught:  how often shall this happen?   Seven is a number symbolic of fullness.  Jesus goes beyond that, and gives the number seventy times seven -- meaning an unlimited amount.

"Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt."  Just as seven and seventy times seven are significant numbers, so are the numbers in this parable.  Ten thousand talents is simply an astronomical sum, and more than any laborer could earn in several lifetimes, says my study bible.  A hundred denarii is not a small amount of money, but about three months' wages.  However, it's a tiny amount compared to the debt owed to the king in the first place.  It's an illustration of our "debts" to God and God's forgiveness, by comparison to the debts (or sins against us) others owe us and our response to them.  God's forgiveness for us is "up to seventy times seven" or unlimited.  We in turn are required to forgive others.

"So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."  My study bible indicates that there are certain Church Fathers who give a spiritual interpretation of the punishment described here.  The man would represent the soul, the wife the body, and the children represent a person's deeds or "fruits."  In this perspective, the body and one's deeds are given over to slavery -- to Satan -- so that the soul might possibly be saved (see 1 Corinthians 5:5).  That is, by putting a person outside the Church (excommunication), life is experienced without the protection from the destructive power of Satan.  Evil or oppressive influences are like "torturers."  The hope is that this experience of the difference between God's rule and Satan's will create repentance and thereby salvation.  The punishment is clearly illustrative of a life outside of grace, in which what we "owe" by sinning against another is taken from us via the same, and a kind of "karmic" or juridical law applies.

It's interesting to think about what Jesus has taught, and what a life would be without forgiveness and without the power and understanding of God's grace.  Jesus illustrates via this parable His repeated call for us to "be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (5:48) from the Sermon on the Mount.  The king in the story forgave an overwhelming, unheard-of amount.  But the servant fails to learn anything from this example.  The spiritual interpretation of a life exempt from the working of grace, in which one fails to also forgive those who have recognized their sin or "debt," gives us a sense in which good can come even out of evil -- or a life subject to the "torturers," the influence of the bad or oppressive elements that do not know mercy. There are times when we may truly pay for our own mistakes, so to speak, as we enter into foolish engagements we know are wrong or unrepentantly carry out aggressive or destructive behaviors against others that may come back to haunt us through conditions created as a result.  In this model, grace and forgiveness work hand in hand.  Our capacity to forgive is linked to a holy and blessed life, in which what we do -- even the difficulties we go through -- instead become grounds for planting seeds of the Kingdom in the world.  We can look to the Old Testament example of Job to teach us this, as well as those holy people who have suffered oppression and hardship but go through it with faith.  This is a very important teaching for any of us who suffer unfairly in any way.  So much depends on what we choose to have faith in, and how we carry ourselves through it.  Let us note that in His system of correction, Jesus does not ask of us that we suffer needlessly from those who continually abuse us and fail to repent, via full reconciliation.  His system requires acknowledgement of debts, our own and those of others.  Reconciliation comes with acknowledgement.  Rather, forgiveness is a system of giving debts to God -- that is, the sins committed against us, refraining from vengeance (such as is practiced by the "torturers"), and living a blessed life with grace.  Bitterness comes from looking for "payback," but fullness is the life in God.  All lessons to learn about walking in His Way, and releasing all things to God -- being "perfect as My Father in heaven is perfect."