Sunday, August 10, 2008

Rough Notes on Forgivness

I'm speaking tonight at Xalt, Here are my rough notes. Mostly reminders about what intend to talk about, make of them what you will.

- Peace


Matthew 18:21-35 (The Message)

21 At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"

22 Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.

23-25"The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.

26-27"The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.

28"The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!'

29-31"The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.

32-35"The king summoned the man and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?' The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy."


Works on several levels

The master forgives first: this is not pop-karma

The economic: who's money was lent?

Kingdom: We have a modern view of law and goverment, for all it's faults, Kingship is far more relational. The King had set a personal example on how things should be done, to reject that was to reject the rule of the King.


BTW - pure speculation, but who do you think Peter was thinking of? Who was he spending most of his time with?
Matthew 6:9-13 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)


9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.


Again God is the source, of our meals, of forgiveness.
If we believe that God is the source of what we need, then we can forgive our debtors
Used to wonder what it meant for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, I believe the rest of the prayer is the answer,
God provides, forgives and keeps us from participating in evil
We forgive and we follow.


Jesus sums up the Kingdom with the first story, and forgiveness makes up a major part of our action in the Lord's prayer, why?

Mathew: New convent
John: New commandment, Love one another as I have loved you.

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