The Unmerciful Servant
Matthew 18: 21-35 Linked
The Law of Forgiveness
∗ Is it a very difficult to forgive one another?
∗ Very difficult, a little difficult, not at all.
∗ How many times should we forgive?
∗ Three, seven, innumerable.
∗ After effect of forgiveness
∗ Compassionate, caring, free from the wrath
The Parable of Jesus in Brief
Once a king wanted to settle the account with his servants. One of the servants owed him ten thousand talents. Since he had no money to repay, the king commanded he be sold with his family to repay the debt. The servant fell flat on his feet and pleaded. The master was moved with compassion and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went to one of his fellow servants who owed him hundred denarii, insisted him to pay back what he owed. The servant begged and pleaded. But he threw him into the prison till he paid. The fellow servants informed to the master. The master was angry and delivered into tortures until he would pay his due.
Practise what Jesus says…..
The application of forgiveness is timeless because the heavenly Father forgives us if we forgive our fellow human beings. If not, our sins grow in us like a giant.
The Gracious Master
Matthew 20: 1-16 Linked
Time: Early morning (6:00 am)
Venue: Vineyard
Characters : Land owner, his Steward and Labourers
EARLY IN THE MORNING
Land owner: Have a good day! I hire you as labourers for a dinarius.
Labourers: Thank you, master. (Started working)
AT NINE O’ CLOCK
Master: Why are you idling away your time? You too go and work in the vineyard.
Labourers : Yes, master. Thank you.
Master: I will pay you what is right for you.
AT ELEVEN O’ CLOCK
Master: Why are wasting your time in idle?
Labourers : None hired us, Master.
Master: You also go into the vineyard.
Labourers : It’s very kind of you, Master.
Master: What is right, you will receive.
IN THE EVENING
Master: Call all the labourers and give them their wages.
Steward: Yes, your majesty. …..
Master: Beginning with the last to the first….
Labourers who came last: We are getting one dinarius. That’s great.
Labourers who came first: Of course, then we will be getting more…..
Steward: Here ….. your wages
Labourers to the Land owner: Lord, late comers worked for one hour and they too got the same as we…., Master.
Labourer: We had borne the burden of the day ……, Master.
Master : Friends, I am doing no wrong. I wish to give you the same. Is it not lawful to give with my things what I wish?
The day ended with a great lesson for the labourers.
WHAT IS THE LESSON?
∗ The Vineyard is the Kingdom of Heaven.
∗ The Master is God.
∗ The series of labourers are people.
∗ The Master fixes the wages for the labourers who came first.
∗ Then He goes on adding the workers.
∗ But the wages remain the same for all. This shows the generosity of the Master.
∗ But the people are jealous of God’s generosity (grace) because it varies from people to people.
∗ Here God’s principle of generosity (grace) is quite evident that people can’t question.
Jesus closes this parable by repeating the proverb in Matthew 19: 30.
Let’s pray……
Lord, let us forgive the sins of others and look forward for Your forgiveness for our sins.
Lord, take away all our jealousy for Your unquestionable grace. Amen.
Glory be to God
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