City Life Starter

Written by Stefan Johnsson

The Word

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Matthew 5:7 (ESV)

²¹ Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” ²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

²³ “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶ So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ ²⁷ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. ²⁸ But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ ²⁹ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ ³⁰ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. ³¹ When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. ³² Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³ And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. ³⁵ So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Matthew 18:21-35 (ESV)

Reflection

There should be no surprise that showing mercy and receiving mercy go hand-in-hand. Now, this is not the same as karma. Far form it. Jesus gave us the best illustration for defining mercy in His terms and letting us understand it. The parable of the unforgiving servant gives us the insight needed. Here a servant who owed a debt beyond anything he could pay was forgiven by his master. In return, there was another servant who owed very little to the unforgiving servant. Instead of forgiving his debt, the unforgiving servant had that other servant thrown in jail. Of course, the servant who was thrown into jail had the last laugh as the master in return had the unforgiving servant thrown into jail for being such a prick(my personal interpretation of course). 🙂

Now the inference from the parable helps us understand mercy. We are like the unforgiving servant. Our sins are beyond our ability to pay off. Jesus forgave this tremendous debt through the blood He shed on the cross, and in return, we should do likewise to anyone who owes us anything.

This is why Jesus can say that blessed are those who show mercy to anyone who owes them anything because their bigger, unpayable, ever increasing debt is forgiven.

We have been given mercy, so let us freely give it to others.

Application

How’s your book of collections for debts looking like? Are you harboring anger because there is a debt to be collected on someone else? Maybe it is time to forgive those who owe you, no matter if it’s financial or material. Let God use your forgiveness to change your life so you can be free of the things that do not matter.

You have treasures stored in heaven and a loving and merciful God on your side. What else do you need?

Prayer

Father in heaven, thank You for loving me and granting me mercy. Let me live such a life that I can freely forgive others and show them mercy. Let Your Holy Spirit work through me. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.