Reflections on Scripture with Dr. Leins
| Time Stamp | Transcript |
| 0:00 | the darkness |
| 0:07 | [Music] |
| 0:15 | hello |
| 0:16 | today let’s talk about a look in the |
| 0:19 | mirror |
| 0:22 | a scripture text for today is found in |
| 0:24 | Matthew chapter 18 verses 21 to 35 this |
| 0:28 | is the parable of the unforgiving |
| 0:30 | servant or what we might call a look in |
| 0:33 | the mirror |
| 0:35 | the parable is historian three acts Act |
| 0:38 | One undeserved forgiveness |
| 0:41 | Jesus told his disciples a parable |
| 0:44 | a certain King wished to settle his |
| 0:46 | accounts one of his servants was brought |
| 0:48 | to him who owed him ten thousand talents |
| 0:51 | now hear this please the ordinary pay |
| 0:54 | for a servant was one Daenerys per day |
| 0:57 | it took six thousand daenery to make one |
| 1:01 | talent but this servant owed the king 10 |
| 1:05 | 000 talents that is 60 million daenery |
| 1:08 | 60 million days work |
| 1:12 | do you know how many years that would |
| 1:14 | take to pay |
| 1:15 | 164 |
| 1:17 | 383 years of work |
| 1:20 | the servant would have to work all of |
| 1:22 | his life and the lives of over five |
| 1:24 | thousand of his offspring to pay that |
| 1:26 | debt so the servant fell at the feet of |
| 1:28 | the king and he begged him please be |
| 1:31 | patient with me I will repay everything |
| 1:34 | the King was compassionate and he |
| 1:36 | released the man of his entire debt can |
| 1:40 | you imagine |
| 1:41 | you owe the IRS all the money that you |
| 1:44 | and your family will make for the next |
| 1:46 | five thousand children |
| 1:48 | and out of the kindness of their hearts |
| 1:51 | they just forgive it |
| 1:54 | the man was stunned he knew that he |
| 1:57 | should should have been in prison for |
| 1:58 | like the rest of his life instead he was |
| 2:02 | free to live |
| 2:03 | such was the heart of the king |
| 2:05 | Act 2 unexpected crisis when the servant |
| 2:09 | was called before the king to pay his |
| 2:11 | debts he thought that was the crisis of |
| 2:13 | his life but no another crisis was just |
| 2:16 | ahead |
| 2:17 | Jesus explains when the servant’s debt |
| 2:19 | was forgiven he went out and found a |
| 2:21 | fellow servant who owed him 100 daenery |
| 2:24 | not 60 million daenery not 60 000 in |
| 2:28 | area not 600 Denari but 100 daenery he |
| 2:33 | had just been forgiven a debt equal to |
| 2:35 | the lifetime wages of over 5 000 of his |
| 2:38 | children |
| 2:39 | how many generations that would be I |
| 2:41 | don’t know but then he found a fellow |
| 2:43 | servant who owed him three months wages |
| 2:46 | and the servant went ballistic he seized |
| 2:49 | his fellow servant by the throat and |
| 2:51 | choked him saying pay back what you owe |
| 2:53 | me |
| 2:54 | fellow servant fell down and begged him |
| 2:57 | please be patient with me I will repay |
| 2:59 | everything |
| 3:01 | those were the words that this servant |
| 3:03 | had spoken to the king only moments |
| 3:05 | before but the servant did not recognize |
| 3:07 | his own words he did not make the |
| 3:10 | connection of the Forgiveness that he |
| 3:12 | had just received and the Forgiveness |
| 3:14 | that he was being asked to give |
| 3:17 | the servant was unwilling to give in the |
| 3:20 | smallest measure the mercy and |
| 3:22 | forgiveness that he had just received in |
| 3:24 | great abundance |
| 3:26 | instead he threw his fellow servant into |
| 3:31 | prison |
| 3:33 | do you see what Jesus is teaching |
| 3:36 | Jesus later explained what you have done |
| 3:40 | to the least of these my brethren you |
| 3:43 | have done unto me |
| 3:45 | so when the king encountered his servant |
| 3:47 | in debt the king encountered Jesus |
| 3:51 | and when the servant encountered his |
| 3:54 | fellow servant in debt the servant |
| 3:56 | encountered Jesus |
| 3:59 | the servant thought that the only crisis |
| 4:01 | of his life was when he was called to |
| 4:04 | stand before the king |
| 4:06 | his King was gracious |
| 4:08 | but what he did not realize was the |
| 4:12 | unexpected crisis of his life was when |
| 4:15 | his fellow servants stood before him |
| 4:16 | when he encountered Jesus in the form of |
| 4:19 | his fellow servant and when he was asked |
| 4:22 | to forgive him that was his life’s |
| 4:25 | unexpected crisis |
| 4:29 | Act 3. |
| 4:31 | unintended consequences |
| 4:34 | now when the other servants saw what had |
| 4:38 | happened and how the forgiven servant |
| 4:41 | had treated his fellow servant and had |
| 4:43 | thrown him into prison they were grieved |
| 4:47 | and they went to their master and told |
| 4:49 | him about the behavior of The Unforgiven |
| 4:52 | servant the King was angry and he called |
| 4:55 | for the forgiven servant he said you |
| 4:58 | Wicked servant |
| 5:00 | I forgave you all that debt because you |
| 5:03 | entreated me should you not also have |
| 5:06 | had mercy on your fellow servant as I |
| 5:09 | had mercy on you |
| 5:11 | and the Lord handed him over to the |
| 5:14 | basanistes the torturers until he should |
| 5:18 | repay all that was owed |
| 5:21 | Jesus concluded the parable saying so |
| 5:24 | shall my heavenly father also do to you |
| 5:28 | if each of you does not forgive his |
| 5:30 | brother from your heart |
| 5:34 | what does this Parable mean |
| 5:36 | what is Jesus teaching us |
| 5:40 | first |
| 5:41 | Jesus is teaching us |
| 5:45 | that our heavenly father gives us |
| 5:47 | undeserved forgiveness |
| 5:49 | you remember the passage started when |
| 5:52 | Peter asked how often he had to forgive |
| 5:54 | his brother and Peter suggested a |
| 5:55 | gracious seven times |
| 5:58 | Jesus responded with an animated I do |
| 6:01 | not say seven times but 70 times seven |
| 6:04 | times in other words an unlimited number |
| 6:08 | of times |
| 6:09 | this is the heart of God |
| 6:12 | Jesus desires that we have such a heart |
| 6:14 | as well this is the Heart exhibited by |
| 6:17 | the king in the parable that Jesus told |
| 6:20 | an enormous debt is owed to the king but |
| 6:23 | the king forgives the entire debt he |
| 6:27 | does this not because the servant earned |
| 6:28 | or merited it but because this was the |
| 6:32 | nature and character of The King |
| 6:35 | next |
| 6:37 | Jesus is teaching us |
| 6:40 | that the expectation of Our Father in |
| 6:43 | Heaven is that we would give each other |
| 6:45 | the same grace and mercy that he has |
| 6:47 | given to us when we are wronged we |
| 6:50 | should be quick to forgive with mercy |
| 6:52 | and kindness in our hearts |
| 6:54 | do you remember the lesson that Jesus |
| 6:56 | gave to his disciples when he taught |
| 6:58 | them the Lord’s Prayer you know the |
| 7:00 | Lord’s Prayer in the center of the |
| 7:01 | prayer he teaches us to pray forgive us |
| 7:04 | our trespasses as we forgive those who |
| 7:07 | trespass against us |
| 7:09 | and when the prayer is ended Jesus |
| 7:12 | adds on this teaching |
| 7:15 | for if you forgive men their |
| 7:17 | transgressions your heavenly father will |
| 7:19 | also forgive you |
| 7:21 | but if you do not forgive men then your |
| 7:23 | father will not forgive your |
| 7:25 | transgressions |
| 7:28 | ouch |
| 7:29 | did you hear that |
| 7:32 | finally Jesus is teaching us |
| 7:35 | that there are consequences when we |
| 7:38 | break the Commandments of God |
| 7:40 | in this case there are consequences for |
| 7:42 | our lack of forgiveness the servant who |
| 7:46 | would not forgive was called wicked by |
| 7:48 | the king and for that reason he was |
| 7:50 | handed over to the tormentors until he |
| 7:53 | should pay the entire debt |
| 7:55 | and Jesus declared that the heavenly |
| 7:57 | father will do the very same thing to |
| 7:59 | each of us who does not forgive our |
| 8:02 | brother or sister from our heart |
| 8:07 | conclusion |
| 8:09 | a look in the mirror |
| 8:12 | now it’s possible that you may have a |
| 8:14 | couple of questions as you hear this |
| 8:16 | parable |
| 8:17 | you may be wondering why is it that God |
| 8:19 | has told us to forgive others an |
| 8:22 | unlimited number of times and yet the |
| 8:25 | king in this Parable only forgave the |
| 8:27 | servant once |
| 8:29 | the king forgave the great debt |
| 8:31 | but the servant still held a debt |
| 8:33 | against his fellow servant and for this |
| 8:35 | the king judged him and condemned him to |
| 8:38 | the tormentors |
| 8:41 | that does not appear to be undeserved |
| 8:44 | and unlimited forgiveness by the king |
| 8:48 | and you may also be wondering isn’t the |
| 8:51 | chief article of the faith that we are |
| 8:52 | justified by grace through faith apart |
| 8:55 | from works of the law |
| 8:57 | and yet this Parable appears to teach |
| 8:59 | that we will be judged according to the |
| 9:02 | works of the law specifically we must |
| 9:04 | forgive others or the Father in heaven |
| 9:07 | will not forgive us if we forgive others |
| 9:09 | our heavenly father will forgive us if |
| 9:11 | we do not forgive others we will not be |
| 9:14 | forgiven by the Father in heaven so |
| 9:18 | are we judged by God for our works in |
| 9:23 | this case our ability for to forgive |
| 9:25 | others or are we forgiven on account of |
| 9:28 | our faith |
| 9:31 | how do you reconcile this apparent |
| 9:33 | contradiction of course you know |
| 9:36 | that God’s word does not contradict |
| 9:38 | itself so |
| 9:39 | what are we missing |
| 9:43 | the contradiction goes away |
| 9:46 | when we understand what faith in God |
| 9:49 | truly is |
| 9:51 | God is gracious beyond our imagining his |
| 9:55 | Mercy is new every morning and his love |
| 9:58 | is so great that he gave his only |
| 10:00 | begotten son to die for us that |
| 10:02 | whosoever believes in him that is has |
| 10:05 | faith in him |
| 10:06 | will not perish but have eternal life as |
| 10:09 | Jesus said he who believes in me has |
| 10:12 | faith in me though he were dead yet |
| 10:14 | shall he live and whosoever liveth and |
| 10:15 | Believes In Me has faith in me shall |
| 10:18 | never die we are justified by grace |
| 10:22 | through faith apart from works of the |
| 10:25 | law |
| 10:26 | your faith |
| 10:28 | is a Miraculous Creation Of God by water |
| 10:31 | and the spirit |
| 10:32 | even as Faith lives within you God |
| 10:35 | himself lives within you you are born |
| 10:38 | again your faith your new birth causes |
| 10:42 | you to Will and to do the Commandments |
| 10:45 | of God |
| 10:47 | you do not do them perfectly |
| 10:49 | only Jesus does that but still you want |
| 10:52 | to do them and you wish you could do |
| 10:54 | them perfectly |
| 10:55 | your forgiveness and your ability to |
| 10:58 | forgive others come to you with the gift |
| 11:01 | of faith that God has given to you your |
| 11:04 | forgiveness from God and your |
| 11:06 | forgiveness for others are yours |
| 11:09 | by the power of the divine presence of |
| 11:12 | God within you |
| 11:15 | surely you will still sin |
| 11:18 | but does this mean that you lose your |
| 11:21 | salvation no |
| 11:23 | we are genuinely sorry we confess our |
| 11:26 | sins and we are forgiven |
| 11:29 | now |
| 11:31 | when you are wronged |
| 11:33 | you know that you should forgive even |
| 11:35 | when you do not feel that in your |
| 11:37 | emotions and when it does not seem |
| 11:39 | possible for you to do it |
| 11:41 | but Christ Is In You by grace through |
| 11:45 | faith your lord calls you and empowers |
| 11:47 | you to forgive this is the work of Jesus |
| 11:50 | within you again you do not do this |
| 11:53 | perfectly |
| 11:54 | it may be as a weak and needy and |
| 11:57 | dependent child that you try to keep his |
| 12:00 | command to forgive |
| 12:01 | yet in faith you do try nonetheless |
| 12:06 | and when you’re not completely |
| 12:08 | successful that’s not the same thing as |
| 12:11 | denying your faith in Christ or |
| 12:13 | rejecting his Commandments as an atheist |
| 12:16 | your attempts to forgive are not the |
| 12:20 | same as pharaohs who received countless |
| 12:23 | chances from God and still kept his hard |
| 12:26 | heart and was still unwilling to have |
| 12:29 | faith and unwilling to forgive others |
| 12:33 | you see your faith is not measured by |
| 12:36 | how great it is but how great the one is |
| 12:39 | who gave you that faith |
| 12:42 | by faith you know that you need |
| 12:44 | forgiveness and by faith you know that |
| 12:47 | you need to forgive others these are |
| 12:49 | gifts from God that are created in your |
| 12:51 | heart in the person of faith |
| 12:54 | of course a person can reject Faith a |
| 12:58 | person can Harden his or her heart |
| 13:00 | rejecting God’s forgiveness and |
| 13:03 | rejecting giving forgiveness to others |
| 13:05 | but today |
| 13:08 | this teaching from Christ is a call for |
| 13:11 | you to take a look in the mirror I |
| 13:13 | suspect that you remember some people |
| 13:16 | who have wronged you |
| 13:17 | you could say that they owe you a debt |
| 13:21 | but the word of Christ in you is saying |
| 13:23 | something more |
| 13:25 | compared to the debt of all the sins |
| 13:27 | that you owe Christ the debt of those |
| 13:30 | people to you |
| 13:32 | is really pretty small |
| 13:34 | you can forgive them |
| 13:37 | entrust them to Jesus |
| 13:39 | if it is his will that they receive his |
| 13:42 | Vengeance leave that to him |
| 13:45 | if it is his will that they meet their |
| 13:47 | tormentors whomever they may be leave |
| 13:50 | that to him if it is his will that they |
| 13:52 | receive a fresh start and a new day |
| 13:54 | leave that to him whatever he chooses it |
| 13:58 | will be because they are weak needy and |
| 14:01 | dependent children and because he loves |
| 14:03 | them just like he loves you |
| 14:07 | Jesus Christ has forgiven you all your |
| 14:10 | sins forever your great debt is gone how |
| 14:15 | wonderful that God’s gifts of faith and |
| 14:17 | forgiveness are for you |
| 14:20 | in addition to giving you faith and |
| 14:22 | forgiveness the faith that God has given |
| 14:24 | you enables you |
| 14:27 | to forgive others |
| 14:30 | amen |
| 14:37 | [Music] |
| 14:45 | [Music] |
| 14:49 | [Applause] |
LutheranLectionary.org 