Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus said, “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants, And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that you owe. And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you desired me:”, and in chapter eighteen and verse thirty-three of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus told how the king asked the unforgiving man, “should not you also have had compassion on your fellow-servant?” where we read:
Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow-servant, even as I had pity on you?
The verse reads, “Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow-servant, ...”. Matthew began with the words, “should not you also” or “was it not necessary, needful and meet even so and indeed to” “have had compassion” which means “to have helped, extended mercy and had pity” “on your fellow-servant” or “upon the servant's associates and colleague”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the master and king of the servant asked him whether he should have extended similar mercy to his associate.
The verse goes on to say, “... even as I had pity on you”? Matthew continued with the words, “even as I” or “likewise and in the same way the king and master” “had pity” which means “extended mercy and compassion” “on you” which means “on the servant”? Matthew wrote how Jesus said the king continued to ask his servant whether he should have had “compassion” upon his “fellow-servant” in a similar manner that he had toward him.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how there was a day of reckoning for the “servant” because he mistreated his fellow-servant. Forgiveness toward oneself is often desired, however forgiveness is not as easily given to another person. Jesus forgives “all” sin when a person comes to Him, repents, and asks Him to come into their life. God stands ready to forgive, and He wants us to be like Him and forgive others as He has forgiven us.
Next time Matthew shares how, “his lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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