Our paragraph topic is: (The servant's fate) Part 1.
Christ continues to demonstrate to his disciples the need for forgiveness. The fate of the servant who would not forgive but exacted punishment upon his fellow servants, is used as an example for the disciples. The kingdom of heaven is similar to this demonstration. For when the settlement date comes, all will be judged according to whether they were merciful, as our Father is merciful upon us. The servant was forgiven his debt. Will we forgive our brothers and sisters their debt? Will we look upon them with contempt and anger? Or will we accept them with open arms and forgive them their trespasses?
These are the principles that Christ sought to teach his disciples in this parable. He wanted them to have a clear understanding of the message. He wanted them to know why it is important for them to forgive. Not just one time. Not just two times. But as many times as seventy times seven, as many times as it takes. He wanted them to not be like the wicked servant in the parable. For the story of the actions of the wicked servant got back to the master. "His fellow-servants therefore, seeing what had happened, were very much saddened, and they went and informed their master of what had taken place. Then his master called him, and said to him, 'Wicked servant! I forgave thee all the debt, because thou didst entreat me."
Are we wicked servants? Do we entreat our Father to forgive us and then do not forgive our brothers and sisters? In the heat of the moment, do we remember? In the midst of the conflict when our passions are high, when we realize that we have been wronged, can we think about what we did to our Father when we wronged him? Can we make that comparison, our Father forgiving us, to our forgiving our brothers/sisters? Evil would have us live in the passion. Evil would have us act upon our feelings. Evil would laugh at us as we battle our brothers and sisters because they have offended us because they have wronged us. Evil would not have us step back and think of the love and the mercy that our Father gave us when we sinned against him.
All we would think about is that we were offended. All we could see is that we must get revenge. All we could understand is that we were hurt. These are the things that our emotions would have us act upon. In an argument, in a fight, in a heated discussion, in an effort to hurt or retaliate, we are fully engaged in what our feelings tells us that we must do. We do not take a deep breath and step back, to think and to feel from the heart of all the things that we did wrong and how our Father forgave us.
Our God has forgiven us. Our God loves us. Our God is merciful toward us. For those who seek to know him he is loving. For those who seek to be with him he is forgiving. For those who desire to love him he is open armed and welcoming. He provides. He protects. He forgives. Our past is with us. Our history is like a movie that plays before us, a witness of all the transgressions that we made against the will of our Father. He should be mad. He should be angry. He should exact punishment. Yet he is merciful and forgiving. Should we face the day of settlement, our history would certainly condemn us to eternal damnation. Yet we entreat the compassion of our Father to forgive us of all that we have done.
Be not the "Wicked Servant." Be not the unforgiving. Step back and open the heart to that which was given to you. Seek to become like Christ and understand the love of the Father toward you and toward all your brothers and sisters. We are all his children. He created us. He gave us life. It is through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus that we have new life, a new beginning. Come! Rejoice in what is before you. Seek the knowledge of who you are in Christ and you will know the truth. If the eye is sound then you will see the light that is within you. And then you will know the truth and the love that the Father has for you. Open the door to your heart and let the Holy Spirit come in.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
Christ continues to demonstrate to his disciples the need for forgiveness. The fate of the servant who would not forgive but exacted punishment upon his fellow servants, is used as an example for the disciples. The kingdom of heaven is similar to this demonstration. For when the settlement date comes, all will be judged according to whether they were merciful, as our Father is merciful upon us. The servant was forgiven his debt. Will we forgive our brothers and sisters their debt? Will we look upon them with contempt and anger? Or will we accept them with open arms and forgive them their trespasses?
These are the principles that Christ sought to teach his disciples in this parable. He wanted them to have a clear understanding of the message. He wanted them to know why it is important for them to forgive. Not just one time. Not just two times. But as many times as seventy times seven, as many times as it takes. He wanted them to not be like the wicked servant in the parable. For the story of the actions of the wicked servant got back to the master. "His fellow-servants therefore, seeing what had happened, were very much saddened, and they went and informed their master of what had taken place. Then his master called him, and said to him, 'Wicked servant! I forgave thee all the debt, because thou didst entreat me."
Are we wicked servants? Do we entreat our Father to forgive us and then do not forgive our brothers and sisters? In the heat of the moment, do we remember? In the midst of the conflict when our passions are high, when we realize that we have been wronged, can we think about what we did to our Father when we wronged him? Can we make that comparison, our Father forgiving us, to our forgiving our brothers/sisters? Evil would have us live in the passion. Evil would have us act upon our feelings. Evil would laugh at us as we battle our brothers and sisters because they have offended us because they have wronged us. Evil would not have us step back and think of the love and the mercy that our Father gave us when we sinned against him.
All we would think about is that we were offended. All we could see is that we must get revenge. All we could understand is that we were hurt. These are the things that our emotions would have us act upon. In an argument, in a fight, in a heated discussion, in an effort to hurt or retaliate, we are fully engaged in what our feelings tells us that we must do. We do not take a deep breath and step back, to think and to feel from the heart of all the things that we did wrong and how our Father forgave us.
Our God has forgiven us. Our God loves us. Our God is merciful toward us. For those who seek to know him he is loving. For those who seek to be with him he is forgiving. For those who desire to love him he is open armed and welcoming. He provides. He protects. He forgives. Our past is with us. Our history is like a movie that plays before us, a witness of all the transgressions that we made against the will of our Father. He should be mad. He should be angry. He should exact punishment. Yet he is merciful and forgiving. Should we face the day of settlement, our history would certainly condemn us to eternal damnation. Yet we entreat the compassion of our Father to forgive us of all that we have done.
Be not the "Wicked Servant." Be not the unforgiving. Step back and open the heart to that which was given to you. Seek to become like Christ and understand the love of the Father toward you and toward all your brothers and sisters. We are all his children. He created us. He gave us life. It is through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus that we have new life, a new beginning. Come! Rejoice in what is before you. Seek the knowledge of who you are in Christ and you will know the truth. If the eye is sound then you will see the light that is within you. And then you will know the truth and the love that the Father has for you. Open the door to your heart and let the Holy Spirit come in.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
