|
July 16, 2009
How Much Should We Forgive?
IF Peter gasped when Jesus told him to forgive his brother up to seventy times seven (Matt. 18:22), he must have been overwhelmed when he heard the parable that followed.
The first servant owed 10,000 talents to the king (18:24). The second servant owed 100 denarii to the first servant (18:28). This was an extraordinary difference in indebtedness. A talent was a lot of money, perhaps $1000 in today’s currency. But in that culture, it probably represented far more. A talent equaled 6,000 denarii, and one denarius was what a common laborer could earn in one day, about 16¢ to 18¢.
So, the first servant owed at least $10 million, but from the standpoint of common wages, he would have had to work 60 million days to pay off his debt! By contrast, the second servant owed $16 to $18, which he could earn in 100 days. In other words, the first servant owned the king more than the second servant owed the first servant by a ration of at least 600,000-to-1!
Somehow, after Jesus finished that parable, seventy times seven probably didn’t look so bad to Peter!
Today, is there anyone you need to forgive?
For the kingdom,
City Bible Business Ministry
|
