Tag: Righteousness

Justification

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Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 

‘Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification’ He died for our sins (1Pet. 2:24) and was resurrected for our justification (Rom. 5:10; 1Cor. 15:1-23).

‘Justification’ seven facts about justification [Greek: dikaiosis] the act of God declaring people free from guilt and acceptable to Him and counting them righteous (3:25; 5:18). Dikaioma is only another word rendered “justification” (5:16). Justification is by faith (3:24-4:25; 5:1; Gal. 2:16; 3:24). Justification is the universal remedy for sin (3:24-4:25). Justification a fulfilment of the Abrahamic covenant (4:1-25). Justification by faith illustrated: Abraham before the law (4:1-4, 9-25) and David under the law (4:5-8).

Justification of believers is by: (1) God (3:26); (2) Christ’s resurrection (4:25); (3) Holy Spirit (1Cor. 6:11); (4) Blood (3:24-28); (5) Grace (3:24; Tit. 3:7); (6) Faith (Acts 13:39; Rom. 5:1); (7) Prayer (Luke 18:14); (8) Obedience (5:18).

Eight results of justification by faith: (1) Peace with God (5:1); (2) Access by faith into grace; (3) Standing in grace; (4) Joy and hope (5:2); (5) Joy in tribulations (5:3-5); (6) Love of God in the heart (5:5-8); (7) Holy Spirit given to us (5:5; 8:9); (8) Saved from wrath (5:9-10). Seven Ways that “justification” is used: To declare what one is (1Tim. 3:16); to esteem a thing properly (Mat. 11:19); to commend or praise (Luke 7:29); to clear from all sin (1Cor. 4:4); to declare righteous (Mat. 12:37); to set free or escape from (Acts 13:39). to pardon sin (3:20-28; 4:2; 5:1, 9; 8:30; Luke 18:14; 1Cor. 6:11; Gal. 2:16-17; 3:11, 24; 5:4; Tit. 3:7).

We Conclude

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Romans 3:26-28 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

‘At this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus’ God is now ready to declare His readiness to impart His righteousness by faith to penitents and can now be just in justifying them by His grace (3:24-26).

‘Righteousness’ [Greek: dikaiosune] found 92 times and always translated “righteousness.” The English word is found 305 times in Scripture. It always means the doing of what is right. Fourteen facts about righteousness: Revealed in the gospel (1:17); not commended by unrighteousness (3:5); manifested apart from the law (3:21); witnessed by the law and prophets; freely given to all alike (3:22-25); imputed by faith without works or law (3:22; 4:3, 5, 13, 22). It is God’s righteousness in remitting sins through Christ (3:25; 1Jn. 1:9). It is Christ’s righteousness because He did all that was required of God to redeem people (5:18; 2Cor. 1:1-24). The medium of grace reign (5:21); a requirement of saints (6:13-20); and it produces life (8:10). The law required it, but could not give it (8:4; 9:31-32; 10:4-6); produced by the Holy Spirit (14:17). Conditions of receiving it (3:22; 4:1-5:11; 6:13-19; 8:1-10; 10:9-10).

‘Where is boasting then? … By what law? of works?’ Here (3:27-28) we have the second dialogue between Paul and the Jew. Paul has been proving from Romans 3:9 that the Jews are as guilty and condemned as the Gentiles and that both must be saved by the redemption in Christ. The Jew, finding his boasted religion of Romans 2:17-29 of no merit at all to save his soul, interrupts (as Paul anticipates) and asks, “Where does our boasting come in with such a program of salvation without works and the law? Have we no merit of our own? Do we not have anything accruing to us from our 1,700 years of circumcision and the Mosaic covenant?” Paul answers, “It is completely out-your boasting.” The Jew responds, “By what law? of works?” Paul says, “By the law of faith-you have sinned and you need forgiveness. The law of works cannot pardon. It requires obedience and only kills if transgressed. Faith alone in Christ will pardon and cancel the death penalty” (3:27-28; Eph. 2:8-9).

‘Boasting’ ten things that people boast about: bargains (Pro. 20:14); security (Pro. 27:1); religion (Rom. 2:17-29); strength (1Sam. 17:8-10); conquest (Isa. 10:8-16); gifts (Pro. 25:14); riches (Ps. 49:6); sins (Ps. 94:4); plans (Jas. 4:13-17); and power (Luke 10:17). The only boasting allowed is “in the Lord” (2Cor. 10:12-18).

‘Conclude’ to arrive at a judgement or opinion by reasoning. ‘That a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law’ to be saved through faith in Christ’s atonement and not through the Law of Moses.

The Knowledge of Sin

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Romans 3:11-20 There is none that understand, there is none that seek after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that do good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law said, it said to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

‘They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one’ This is true of all people (Isa. 53:6; Rom. 1:21-32; 3:23; 5:12-21).

‘Unprofitable’ [Greek: achreioo] to make useless. The whole mass of mankind is as a slain, putrid mass thrown together in heaps.

‘Open sepulchre’ by malicious and cutting words they kill and bury the reputation of people. As a tomb is opened and the stench of putrefaction is unbearable, so their throats spue forth poison (3:13-14).

‘Asps’ [Greek: aspis] adder (Ps. 140:3; Deut. 32:33; Job 20:14-16; Isa. 11:8).

‘No fear of God before their eyes’ the same as in Romans 1:32. Not one charge is listed here but what can be traced in case histories of both Jews and Gentiles.

‘To them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God’ For fear the Jews might think Romans 3:10-18 do not apply to them, Paul here says that they apply to all under the law that every mouth might be stopped and the whole world becomes guilty before God. ‘By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin’ even if the Jews had not broken the law, they could not be justified. The law could only condemn, not justify (3:21-31; 7:7-25).

God’s Righteousness Upheld

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Romans 3:1-5 What advantage then has the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou might be justified in thy sayings, and might overcome when thou are judged. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? (I speak as a man) 

‘What advantage then has the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?’ Circumcision only profited if the law was kept (3:25).

‘Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God’ This answers the questions of Romans 3:1. Being entrusted with the oracles of God and all the external advantages were not sufficient to save the soul (3:21-31; 4:1-25; 8:3-4; Gal. 3:10-14).

‘For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?’ People’s unbelief cannot undo the effects of God’s faithfulness.

‘God forbid’ this answers the questions of Romans 3:3. “God forbid” is found 15 times in the New Testament (3:4, 6, 31; 6:2, 15; 7:7, 13; 9:14; 11:1, 11; Luke 20:16; 1Cor. 6:15; Gal. 2:17; 3:21; 6:14), and 9 times in the Old Testament (Gen. 44:7, 17; Jos. 22:29; 24:16; 1Sam. 12:23; 14:45; 20:2; 1Chron. 11:19; Job 27:5). Only in 1Chronicles 11:19 is it a literal translation of the original language. In all other places, it is a cultural idiom of the King James translators expressing a strong negative. Literally, may it never be.

‘Let God be true, but every man a liar’ let no man say that God has failed in keeping His word with any man. Let man examine himself and his ways to see if he has not failed to meet conditions so God can fulfil His promise. ‘That thou might be justified in thy sayings, and might overcome when thou art judged’ quoted from Psalm 51:4.

‘Thou are judged’ when God is judged or when He judges man by man, He always comes out justified because He is faithful in all His ways (Ps. 119:86, 138; Deut. 7:9; 1Cor. 1:9; 10:13). ‘But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? … for then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather … Let us do evil, that good may come? … What then? are we better than they?’ Paul states that if their sins magnify the mercy and goodness of God then, the more wicked they are the more God can be glorified. If they thus glorify God, would He not be unjust in casting them off? It is only natural for Paul to reason this way for all his countrymen are involved. Typical how most people believe today: they think because Christ has died for their sin, they can continue therein. Nothing is more further from the truth, because Christ came to set us free from the bondage of sin not to provide a way for us to keep on living in sin (1Jn. 3).

Backsliding

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2Peter 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 

‘If after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein’ one of 1,522 IF’s in the Bible, plainly indicating that all can and some do escape the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Yet some are again entangled therein, becoming worse than they were before they found Christ. Here some proofs follow that these are backsliders: In 2Peter 2:4, Peter warns men that God sent three great catastrophes upon angels and men because of their backslidings and sins. One may argue that the ante-deluvians (pre-flood inhabitants) and Sodom and Gomorrah were not backsliders and had nothing to backslide from, but this argument cannot possibly hold true of the angels that sinned, which, as is acknowledged by all, were created sinless and holy and in God’s grace and blessings. They sinned and are now in hell (2:4; Jude 1:6-7). Angels are definitely called sons of God in Genesis 6:1-4 and Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:4-7. Hence sonship, whether by creation or adoption, will not keep God from damning any angels or men who rebel and sin and who do not get right with Him. In 2Peter 1:5-15, it is clear that Peter lays down conditions to be met if one is not to fall.

One could not forsake or abandon the straight-way if he had not been in it. If they went astray from the right and straight-way, they were one time in it. When we look at 2Peter 1:4; 2:18, 20 we see that the first verse proves that escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust is at the time one partakes of the divine nature, thus it is not possible that these people are not saved or born again at such a time. This confirms that they were one time believers or they would not have had the experiences of like precious faith, grace, peace, and godliness which come with such knowledge, as proved in 2Peter 1:1-4.

The words “again entangled therein, and overcome” (2:20), prove they were once free from such pollutions or they could not be entangled and overcome in and by them again. The statement, “the latter end is worse with them than the beginning,” proves that they were once saved and could have had a better ending than the beginning if they had not become entangled again in the pollutions of the world (2:20).

Peter’s explanation of why it would have been better not to have known the way of righteousness, than after knowing it, to turn away, becoming entangled and overcome by sins again, proves that they were once saved and in the way of righteousness, actually knowing the Christian way (2:21).

The illustration of the sow and the dog proves that they were once saved and that they had gone back into sin again as a dog returns to his vomit and the washed sow to her wallowing in the mire (2:22). If this does not illustrate Christians going back into sin again, it has no point. To argue that it does not refer to Christians returning to sin again on the pretext that the sow always remains a sow and the dog always remains a dog proves nothing, for the same is true of lost sheep, coins, and men (Luke 15:1-32). They always remain what they are when found as do sows and dogs. In none of these illustrations is there a change made in the sow, dog, sheep, coin or lost son. The point is that the sheep, the coin, and lost son were found, and the sow and the dog went back to their old ways. Even a born-again person is not changed into another species; he is still a human being, he is simply cleansed from sin like the sow that was washed (1Jn. 1:7, 9; Rev. 1:5). If he wants to remain cleansed from sin he must walk in the light and in the Spirit (1Jn. 1:7; Gal. 5:16-26; Rom. 8:12-13). To argue that the sow was never washed or the dog was never free from vomit is meaningless.

The warning of 2Peter 3:14 proves that some might not be without spot and blameless and the warning of 3:16 proves that it is possible to go into sin and fall from steadfastness in Christ.

‘Pollutions’ [Greek: miasmata] things that infect, pollute, and defile. It is used still today of the contagion of dangerous diseases and of decaying bodies, stagnant water, and putrid matter. The world is here pictured as putrid and full of contagion of sin and uncleanness (1:4; 2:20).

‘Entangled therein’ [Greek: empleko] to plait or weave in; interweave; entangle. This shows to what extent they had escaped from the pollutions of the world and was then entangled again. ‘The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire’ partially quoted from Proverbs 26:11. Here are some examples of those who returned to sin (Aaron and David repented): Aaron and Israel (Ex. 32:32-33; Deut. 32:16-18; 1Cor. 10:1-11; Jude 1:5); Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-20); Korah and company (Num. 16:1-50); King Saul (1Sam. 10:13-24; 16:12-23; 1Chron. 10:13-14); many disciples of Jesus (John 6:66); David (2Sam. 11-12; Ps. 51:1-19); Judas Iscariot (Ps. 41:9; 55:12-14; 69:25-28; 109:8; Matt. 26:24; John 13:18; Acts 1:1-26); Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-14); many Galatians (Gal. 1:6-9; 5:4; 6:7-8); many early Christians (1Tim. 1:19-20; 5:8-20; 6:1-21; 2Tim. 2:18-21); Demas (2Tim. 4:10); whole congregations (Rev. 2-3).

Through the Righteousness

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2Peter 1:1-2 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord 

‘Peter’ he was one of the 12 apostles (1Pet. 1:1; Matt. 10:2); called Simon and Cephas (John 1:42); a native fisherman of Bethsaida (Matt. 4:18; John 1:44. Peter was a married man (Matt. 8:14; 1Cor. 9:5). He ministered primarily to Jews (Gal. 2:7) and was an elder among many others (1Pet. 5). Peter went east and wrote an epistle from Babylon. Nothing is given of his death other than what is given in John 21:18-19. The theme of this epistle is to exhort believers to stand true in all kinds of suffering, and to set forth the true grace of God (1Pet. 5:12).

‘An apostle of Jesus Christ’ the Greek word apostolos meaning a delegate, one sent with full power of attorney to act in the place of another, the sender remaining behind to back up the one sent. In the case of Christians, it means God sends them to do what He, Himself would do if He went.

‘Precious’ [Greek: isotimos] equal honour. It refers to valuable and costly faith; faith of a great price.

‘Righteousness of God’ the true and costly faith comes through the righteousness of God and Jesus Christ, or through their method of redemption of the lost world (Rom. 10:17).

‘And our Saviour Jesus Christ’ the Greek reads, “our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Peter thus declares that Jesus is God as much as the Father and the Holy Spirit.

‘Jesus our Lord’ ten things about Jesus Christ: Peter’s Master – servant of Christ (1:2); made Peter an apostle (Mark 3:14-19); source of precious faith (Acts 3:16); source of righteousness (1Cor. 1:30); He is God (John 1:1-2); He is Saviour (John 4:42; Acts 5:31); source of grace (John 1:16-17); source of peace (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:14); associated with God the Father as the source of knowledge (Eph. 1:1-23;17; 4:13); a separate person from God the Father (1:2; 1Jn. 5:7).

‘Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord’ as our knowledge of the Father and Son increases when we study the Word (Php. 1:9) our relationship grows and so the blessings we receive from the gospel which includes grace and peace. To be kept in continued grace we have to live and walk in the Spirit (Rom. 8:1-13; Gal. 5:5; 16-26; Col. 3:5-10); be patient in hope (Rom. 8:24; Gal. 5:5; Heb. 3:6, 12-14; 6:19); continue in Christ (John 15:1-8; Gal. 5:6; Col. 2:6-7; Heb. 3:14), and continue in faith (Gal. 5:6; Col. 1:23). To have the peace of God one must be in Christ Jesus, which means to be in unity with Him and of one mind with His Word. We must permit the peace of God to garrison or keep your heart and mind through Jesus Christ (Php. 4:7) without allowing the cares of this world to consume our hearts and minds.

Suffer for Righteousness’ Sake

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1Peter 3:14-18 But and if you suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are you: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit 

‘Suffer for righteousness’ sake,’ all sufferings for doing right will work to your good (Rom. 8:28), providing you take the right attitude (Matt. 5:10; Luke 6:22-23). ‘Be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled’ quoted from Isaiah 8:12-13.

‘Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts’ another proof that sanctification means to separate from a profane to a sacred purpose. We are to give God His rightful place; hold Him in reverence.

‘Good conscience’ one can always have a good conscience if he maintains good behaviour. ‘Conscience’ [Greek: suneidesis] joint knowledge of God and man; knowledge of our acts, state, or character as to right and wrong; the faculty, power, or principle which decides the lawfulness of our actions and affections, and approves or condemns them; the moral faculty or sense; consciousness of actions; the eye, judge, and guide of the inner man. Twelve kinds of conscience are described in the Word: Awakened (John 8:9); seared (1Tim. 4:2); purged (Heb. 9:9, 14; 10:2); pure (Acts 24:16; 1Tim. 3:9; 2Tim. 1:3); weak (1Cor. 8:7, 12, 13); defiled (Tit. 1:15); witnessing (Rom. 2:12-15; 9:1; 2Cor. 1:12); good (Acts 23:1; 1Tim. 1:5, 19; 1Pet. 2:19;  3:16, 21; Heb. 13:18); convicting or healthy (Matt. 27:3); satisfied (1Cor. 10:25-29); evil (Heb. 10:22); perfect (Heb. 9:9).

‘Conversation’ [Greek: anastrophe] behaviour or manner of life; the whole conduct of life in domestic and public relations. Always translated “conversation” (1:15, 18; 2:12; 3:1, 2, 16; Gal. 1:13; Eph. 4:22; 1Tim. 4:12; Heb. 13:7; Jas. 3:13; 2Pet. 2:7; 3:11).

‘That you suffer for well doing, than for evil doing’ six things to do in view of suffering: Be happy in suffering (3:14; Matt. 5:10). Be not afraid of man (3:14; Matt. 10:28). Be not troubled by trouble (3:14). Take suffering as unto God and hold Him sacred in your heart (3:15). Be ready to give an account of your life, conduct, and hope (3:15). Maintain a good conscience by good behaviour (3:16).

‘Christ also has once suffered for sins …’ eight facts about Christ (3:18-22): He suffered (3:18); He was put to death (3:18); He was resurrected by the Spirit (3:18); He went to Sheol/Hades (Ps. 16:10; Acts 2:27); He preached to fallen angels while in Sheol/Hades (3:19; 2Pet 2:4; Jude 1:6-7); He ascended to heaven (3:22); He sits on God’s right hand (3:22; Eph. 1:20; Heb. 1:3; 8:1; 12:2); He exalted above all others (3:22; Eph. 1:20-23; Php. 2:9-11; Col. 1:15-18).

‘Once suffered for sins’ three purposes of Christ’s sufferings: He suffered for sins (2:24; Gal. 1:4; Matt. 26:28; Eph. 1:14; 1Cor. 15:3). He suffered for the unjust (Rom. 5:6-8). He suffered to bring us to God (Col. 1:20-22; 2:14-17; 2Cor. 5:14-21).

‘Death in the flesh’ He died in the flesh but did not die in the spirit, proving immortality of the spirit (3:4). Only the body dies at the time of physical death. This is caused by the soul and spirit leaving the body (Jas. 2:26). The body returns to dust and the soul and spirit of the righteous go to heaven to await the resurrection (2Cor. 5:8; Php. 1:21-24; Heb. 12:23; Rev. 6:9-11). The soul and spirit of the wicked go to hell to await the resurrection (Luke 16:19-31; Isa. 14:9; Rev. 20:11-15). The soul and spirit are spiritual and immortal. They cannot go back to dust.

‘Quickened by the Spirit’ His dead body was resurrected by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:11).

No Longer in Ignorance

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John 9:32-41 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and does thou teach us? And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Does thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If you were blind, you should have no sin: but now you say, We see; therefore your sin remain. 

The blind man that was healed by Jesus, was cast out contrary to the agreement of the Jews (John 9:22) -for crossing religious leaders by taking a stand for what was right. His crime was being an honest man, true to his convictions. There were three grades of ex-communication: The niddin, pronounced for 30 days during which offenders were prohibited from public worship, were not allowed to shave, and were required to wear garments of mourning; the cherem, pronounced on those who continued in rebellion. The offender was formally cursed, was excluded from all interaction with other people, and was prohibited from entering the temple or a synagogue; the shammatha, pronounced on those who persisted in rebellion. They were cut off from all connection with the Jewish people and were consigned to utter perdition.

‘For judgment I am come’ referring to the effect of His coming. Rejection of Him will bring judgment. John 12:47 refers to the object of His coming. He came to save, but if men will not have salvation they will finally be judged (John 3:16-20).

‘That they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind’ the idea here is that the people became this way, little by little until they were past normal, vigorous obedience to truth and righteousness.

The Jews claimed to see and therefore refused to admit or repent from their sins. Jesus explained to them that if they were really ignorant they would have no sin, but they were no longer in ignorance. They rejected Christ through enmity so their sin remained.

Many Masters

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James 3:1-2  My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 

When we ‘master’ others – teach – from the Word of God and we cannot contain our tongues (Jas. 1:26) and offend others by telling them what to do or how to live, we do more damage and no good whatsoever.  Our lives, not our words, should set the correct example, that is why our feet must be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:15) not our mouths. When we teach or reprove those who disrespect or dislike God’s Word, we bring shame on our testimony as followers of Christ (Pro. 9:7-9; Mat. 7:6) and cause others to stumble.  The Holy Spirit is the one to reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8).  Matthew 23:10 says that we have one Master, Jesus Christ, and we must learn from Him – the Word (John 1:1, 14). Study the Word, not what others say about it, read your Bible so that you can develop faith, which comes through hearing (Rom. 10:17).  It is through prayer that we can contribute to change in others lives, and by walking in Christ’s footsteps: the life He lived while on earth (1Pet. 2:21-23) by setting a Christ-like example and not one we think is correct because of our own interpretations of the Word (2 Tim. 2:15).

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

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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 worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee 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 fellowservants, 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 fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants 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 desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, 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.  Mat. 18:23-34 KJV

This parable deals with the conduct of the members of the kingdom of Heaven in relation to one another. The purpose of the parable is to answer Peter’s question of verse 21, “How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” Then He gave the illustration of the king and his servant to teach Peter that all members of the kingdom of Heaven must be merciful and forgiving or they would not be forgiven. “Seventy times seven” is 490 times a day, twenty times an hour or once every three minutes that we must forgive those who sin against us and ask our forgiveness. If the disciples said, “Lord, increase our faith,” when Christ told them that they would have to forgive their brother seven times a day, Lk. 17:3-5 what might they have said on this occasion when He told them they must forgive 490 times a day?

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. Mat. 18:35 KJV

The story illustrates what God would do if a child of His would not from his heart forgive his brother. This verse is the sole truth being illustrated by the example of this particular king and his servant. Just as this king did not have mercy on his servant whom he had forgiven a debt of 10,000 talents ($19.2 million in silver – $290.85 million in gold), after the same servant would not forgive his fellow servant a debt of one hundred pence (about $17.00), so God will not have mercy on those in the kingdom of Heaven who will not forgive men from their hearts.

The application of this illustration is as follows:

  1. God cancels all the debt for penitent sinners as this king did for his servant Mt. 18:23-27,35; Mt. 12:31-32; 1Jn. 1:9
  2. God demands fair treatment between Christians Mt. 18:26-30,35; 5:38-48; 7:12; Rom. 12:9-21; 1Cor. 13
  3. God will not forgive unless man forgives his brother Mt. 18:35; 6:14-15; Mk. 11:25-26; Eph. 4:32
  4. All issues of sin and righteousness come “from the heart”. Mt. 15:18-19; Mk. 7:21-23; Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:6-10; 2Tim. 2:22; Heb. 4:12

I choose to forgive those who have wronged me so that I can always receive my Father’s forgiveness and be in right standing with God.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  Mat. 6:14-15 KJV