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“As We Forgive Our Debtors”

The great debt we owe to God was incurred in the forgiveness of sin that necessitated the death of Christ on the cross. “All have sinned.” Romans 3:23. This means that we have sinned, that I have sinned. In His fathomless love, God forgave us all, and we are free from condemnation and have passed from death unto life. Should not this fill our hearts with thanksgiving and joy?

However, there is one important condition on which this forgiveness depends: We are forgiven our sins only as we forgive others fully and freely. God has forgiven us; now we are to forgive others. “If we forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if we forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14,15.

This forgiveness is to be extended to those who have offended us, whether they ask for forgiveness or not. If they do not come to us to ask forgiveness, we are to go to them. “If thou bring thy gift to the alter, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee [not that you have aught against him]; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first to be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matthew 5:23,24. If you have committed one wrong and they twenty, confess that one as though you were the chief offender.

Once Peter asked Christ how often he should forgive his brother. To this Jesus answered, “Until seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21,22. Jesus then spoke a parable about forgiveness, emphasizing that forgiveness of our own sins depends on our forgiving those who have sinned against us.”

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 thee all. Then the lord of that servant 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 thou owest. And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but 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 thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desirest me: shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.” Matthew 18:23-35.

No one can misunderstand the lesson of this parable. The servant had been forgiven much showed an unforgiving and cruel attitude toward the one who owed him a small sum; and though he had already been forgiven and his great debt marked paid, the judgment was reversed and he was condemned to pay all that he owed.

This parable teaches clearly that we are forgiven only as we forgive, and that it is useless to ask to have our sins forgiven unless we “from the heart” forgive those who have sinned against us.

God has entrusted to all men one or more talents for which we are held responsible. They constitute a debt on which He expects us to pay interest. This is clearly taught in this parable:

“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one, he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded them with the same, and made them another five talents. And like wise he that had received the two, he also gained another two. However, he that had the one talent went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also, that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knowest that I reap where I sowed not, and gathered where I have not strawed: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and ye shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  Matthew 25:14-30.

In the parable, he that received five talents gained another five, and he was told, “Well done.” Each had been given the number of talents he could use, “according to his servants ability.” The Lord did not expect a return of five talents from the one who had been given two. On the other hand, He would not have been satisfied with a return of two talents from the one who had been given five.

The man who had received one talent did not attempt to improve it, but buried it in the earth. We are not told the reason for his failure to trade with it. He might have thought that it was small and did not matter. He may have been discontented wit receiving only one talent when the others received more. From the fact that he called the master a hard man, we may presume that he felt unjustly treated. Had he improved his one talent, he doubtless would have received another one, with the commendation of the master, “Well done.”

The excuse he gave was, “I knew thee that thou art an hard man…. And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.” This was a lame excuse. Had he really thought that the Lord was a hard master, should he not have been the more anxious to get his good will by paying him back with interest? He was not acting wisely.

What are these talents? They are skills with which God has endowed men, the inclinations, the capacities, the aptitudes which make one man a poet, another an author, another a preacher, another a carpenter, another a counselor, another a watchmaker. As related to the church, one has the gift of song, another of playing instrumental music, another of storytelling for the children, another for teaching a class, another of doing Dorcus work, another visiting, another of arranging flowers, another of giving “chalk talks.” One who may not be able to sing a solo can join the choir and do his part. Everyone can do something. Everyone has at least one talent. And note: It was the one who had only one talent who did not use it and hence lost it. So, let the one-talent man beware! Let him not bury his talent. If he had done so, let him dig it up and use it. It is not enough to be a church member. Everyone can do something, however lowly the task, and be blessed in doing it. As he does the best, he can, as a reward God may give him another talent, which will increase his work and his blessings.

In 1 Corinthians 12: 8-11, Paul gives this list of talents: “To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.”

Later in the same chapter he says this: “God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then the gift of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.” Verses 28-31.

Among the great gifts here mentioned, note the little word “helps.” There are those who are not gifted to lead out in various enterprises, but are excellent help. They may not think they are doing anything vital, just ‘helping along.” However, that may be very important at times. We are constantly hearing the call for leaders, and these are needed. But it is just as true that we need followers, men who are willing to fill in, playing ‘second fiddle,” doing small menial tasks that need to be done. For a while Elisha, who later became a great prophet, did little else than pour ‘water on the hands of Elijah.” 2 Kings 3:11.

 Every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.” 1 Corinthians 3:8.This means that every man can determine his own reward, and that this will be according to his work. He can determine to do a great work in his line, and receive a great reward; or to do but little, and receive a small reward. Let no one, therefore bury his talent. Do not evade responsibility. If you are asked to take a position, consider the matter, someone has confidence in you that you can do the work or soon grow into it. Pray over it, but be sure your prayers are not biased. Moreover, be sure not to bury your talent in the ground, however small the talent may seem.

Christians are in debt to the world in a sense different from that which we have discussed. Of this Paul said, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.” Romans 1:14,15.

Every Christian ought to do his share of the world’s work. He ought to be a good citizen, obey the law, honor the government, pay his taxes, and take part in endeavors he can honestly support. There are too many of these for him to be active in all, but he can choose one or more and do his honest share.

The Bible direction is: “To do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11. In his next letter he added, “this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” That is, Christians should not “live on” others, as some evidently tried to do in Thessalonica. Paul was not in the habit of commanding his hearers. However, in this instance, he commanded that if any will not work, neither should he eat. Christians must justify the protection they get from the government. They must do their part in every good word and work.

However, aside from this civil responsibility, they owe a debt to the world, of which Paul spoke when he said he was a debtor to all men. The Christian has something the world does not have, the gospel and this he should share with them.

Paul felt keenly the burden of that debt. He knew what awaited him in Rome: opposition, imprisonment, death; but this did not deter him. He owed Rome a debt, and he must pay it, whatever it might mean to him personally. Therefore, Paul went to Rome.

We owe a debt as surely as Paul did. This accounts for foreign missions. Paul did not confine his work to his own circle. He had a world vision. He took Isaiah’s statement literally, that it was too light a thing for him to minister to Israel only, “to restore the preserved of Israel,” to minister to those who already were in the church. God said, “I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6. Paul accepted this responsibility.

Applying this principle to the situation today, we find ourselves confronted with a world task. Under these conditions, it is too light a thing that we should confine our work to our own neighborhood. It is well that we have revivals “to restore the preserved of Israel.” However, we must not devote an undue portion of our time to work of that nature. We must lift up our eyes and view the field. The gospel must be sent to the entire world, and precious talent must not be confined to hover over the churches. We cannot all go to field’s afar, but we can all sacrifice; we can all pray. To such as cannot go but gladly would if circumstances permitted, this precious promise is given, that “as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.” 1 Samuel 30:24. Blessed be God.

There are many who would gladly go into public work if they were free to do so. However, home duties hold them. There are faithful mothers and wives who must stay at home and are deprived of the joy of assisting their husbands in soul-saving work. Let them be of good courage. The Lord understands. He promises that those who tarry by the stuff shall share with them that go down to the battle. Wonderful promise! If we get forgiveness for our sins only upon condition that we forgive them that trespass against us, the first thing we must do before we ask forgiveness is to examine our own hearts to ascertain if there are those we have not forgiven. As is noted above, we are not to wait until they come to us. We are to go to them. Matthew 5:23,24. Christ considered this so important that He said we are to leave our gift at the altar and go first to see the brother, and then bring the gift.

God commends prayer, and He would have all men pray. However, there are times when prayer must wait. Go first, He said, and be reconciled with thy brother. If all followed this advice, there would be love and harmony in the church, and Christ’s promise would be fulfilled, that “If ye have love one to another,” then “shall all men know ye are My disciples.” John 13:35.

Let the mind dwell for a moment on this promise. We all desire to convince the world of the truths we hold. We like to have them be convinced that there are a people who have God’s approval that have the truth for this time. Can we ever do this? Yes. “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” This is the test.

This makes our duty and our privilege clear. I must go to every brother with whom I am at variance and be reconciled to him. I must do this to have my own sins forgiven, and I must do this to convince the world that I belong with the people of God.

It is a sad commentary on our Christianity that God finds it necessary to remind us daily that we ate to put out of our hearts all malice and hatred if we expect to receive God’s pardon. No Christian has any right to pray the Lord’s Prayer if he harbors resentment against any. If he nevertheless prays, he stands self-convicted by his own prayer, for he asks only that God will forgive him as he forgives. Let us therefore ask God to help us pray rightly, “For give us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

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