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COMPASSION 22
JESUS IS COMPASSIONATE TOWARDS THOSE IN DEBT
Matthew 18:21-35
(cmpas22.doc)
*GOOD MEDICINE*
An 82-year-old man, who has lived with much discomfort following a cancer operation 20 years ago, always seems to smile and enjoy life.
In his youth he decided never to harbor feelings of bitterness or resentment.
No matter what hardships he endured or what unfair treatment he received from people, he kept his heart open to the Lord and sought to love even his enemies.
Now he says, "I am convinced that when we cheerfully accept our lot and forgive others as God has forgiven us, we are benefited physically!"
It was obvious from looking at him that he was relaxed and contented, and had a genuine sense of well-being.
We shall see the physical and spiritual benefits of forgiveness illustrated in the narrative before us, as we continue to study the doctrine of compassion.
We have been studying "compassion" and the Greek word that is most often translated "compassion" in the New Testament.
The word is /splagchnizomai 4697/*.
This word is translated "compassion" 11 times in the New Testament; 10 times of Jesus directly or in illustration and 1 time about God in illustration.*
Today we shall study that one time that this word is used in illustration about God.
This occurs in Matthew 18:21-35.
Would you turn there with me please?
I invite you to follow along in your Bibles as I read this aloud for us.
We have been studying the various narratives of the New Testament where Jesus demonstrates the compassion of Jehovah God.
We have been using a format that I devised to help us comfortably discuss narratives.
Treating narratives like hortatory text can sometimes be awkward and inefficient.
Today we shall cover another category of narratives called parables.
*A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning*.
The parables are snatches of everyday life.
But even though the narrative before us is a parable, we will not need to alter our format.
/(So let's begin our study by looking at:)/
I.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES (OR SETTING) (vv.
21-22).
We actually have two settings or sets of circumstances.
\\ /(Let's consider firsts:)/
1.
The Circumstances That Precipitate This Parable.
The set of circumstances which precipitated the parable from Jesus was Peter's question about forgiveness.
Peter asked Jesus how many times he was to forgive a brother who sins against him.
Peter suggested seven times.
It is said that the Rabbis' prescribed three times.
Peter doubled the number prescribed by the Pharisees and did them one better.
He was sure that Jesus would commend His graciousness, but was utterly surprised when Jesus prescribed seventy times seven.
Jesus is not suggesting an actual number of times, but unlimited forgiveness.
This moves Jesus to share a parable illustrating His answer.
/(Now let's consider:)/
2.
The Circumstances Of The Parable.
The set of circumstances germane to the parable is a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
This set of circumstances is likened to the kingdom of heaven, i.e.
God's kingdom is comprised of a King, Jehovah God, who will one day settle accounts or judge His slaves, the Jews.
Of course the parable can be applied to Jesus as the King and Christians as the slaves.
/(Now that we have explored the circumstances, we are ready to get to know:)/
II.
THE CHARACTERS.
1.
The Protagonist.
The protagonist in this story is the king or the Lord of the slaves.
He is portrayed positively by his actions, which we shall explore.
2.
The Antagonist.
The antagonist of this parable is the first slave.
He is portrayed negatively by the other character's responses to him, his own words, and his own actions.
We shall cover this portrayal during our discussion of the plot or conflict.
/(So, let's go ahead and cover:)/
III.
THE CONFLICT (ACTION OR PLOT).
The action of this parable revolves around typical character conflicts.
The first conflict concerns stewardship.
Isn't it natural to owe someone some money.
*"Let me hear you say, `Yesssss!'"*
\\ The first character conflict is between the king and the first slave.
The king wanted to settle accounts with the first slave, but his debt was enormous and he had no ability to repay his debt.
This one slave owed his master 10,000 talents.
We don't know if this is 10,000 talents of gold, silver or iron.
But let's bring the story up to date by calculating the price according to minimum wages in 1992.
Minimum wages is currently $4.25 per hour x 8 hours = 1 denarius or one day's wages of $34.00.
6,000 denarii = 1 talent and 10,000 talents were owed = $2,040,000,000.00,
i.e. two billion and forty million dollars!
This is not just the debt of the slave to his master, this is the debt of every one of us to The Master, Jesus Christ!
This was the debt of sin left to us by our parents: Adam and Eve!
This slave could not repay this debt.
We cannot repay our debt of Sin to God!
So, the king ordered him to be sold to repay his debt, but the slave fell down and begged for mercy.
The response of the king is key:
1.
He Felt Compassion For Him.
felt compassion */4697 splagchnizomai /*"to have the bowels yearn," "to be moved in the inward parts," "to feel compassion."
/splagchnizomai/ is from
/4698 splagchnon/ "an intestine."
/splagchnon/ "b. the bowels were regarded by the Hebrews as the seat of the tenderer affections, especially kindness, benevolence, compassion; hence equivalent to our /heart/, [/tender mercies, affections/, etc.]."[1]
compassion /splagchna/ "The verb gives the oriental idea of the bowels as the seat of compassion."
Compassion is "a deep feeling for and an understanding of suffering with an accompanying desire to relieve that suffering" (Webster's Third New International Dictionary).
The king, who represents either God or Christ, was moved with or felt deep compassion for this slave.
There is a greater debt than that owed to J. C. Penney's.
There is a greater debt than that owed to Visa.
There is a greater debt than your mortgage.
There is the debt of sin!!!.
\\ *God felt such compassion for those of us who were indebted to Him because of sin, that He sent His only begotten Son to pay the debt of sin.
Jesus felt great compassion for His creatures who were overwhelmingly indebted to Him because of sin, that He paid the debt Himself, with His own blood.
Now all we have to do is accept His payment on our behalf through faith!!!*
/(Not only did He feel for this slaved:)/
2.
He Released Him.
released/ 630 apoluo/ Literally to loose away from.
Strong defines the word as "to fully free."
"to release a debtor, i.e. not to press one's claim against him to remit his debt; metaphorically to pardon another his offenses against me."
God has pardoned us and He will pardon the Jews on the basis of the death of Jesus Christ.
He has chosen to not press His claim against us for the debt of Sin.
Why?
*Jesus paid it all.
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