Matthew 18: 21-35

Matt Deaville

If you know Jesus, then you know what Grace, mercy and compassion are also.
If you don't know this kind of grace I urge you to pursue it - it really is amazing.

Christ operates with such grace over our lives. The Bible tells us that "whilst we were still sinners Christ died for us" and that so that, "we might live life more abundantly"

Imagine yourself as the servant in the parable and read it in that light. This is a true scene from life. We have a debt to pay that like in v25 we are unable to pay - that is the debt of sin, which only the king himself can pardon.

The right response is that which the servant gives - one to commit himself to the king (v26) - I will give you everything I have.
Our king is a compassionate and forgiving king (v 27) and to such a commitment he will not shun, paying off the debt himself. (Don't lose sight of how big a debt you are forgiven - it is one that is too big to ever pay for yourself)

Grace is not something that should be abused and taken for granted. The same grace that is given to us, is the same grace that is not just for the few but for the many. Its designed to be given. The servant misused the grace that was given and harboured unforgiveness to others, which caused him to fall. To apply grace is to forgive. We're reminded after the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6 that those who do not apply this same forgiveness to others will not be themselves forgiven.

God wants you to be partakers of an amazing grace and when we start to understand the level of forgiveness that he gives to us, we also begin to understand that the forgiveness that we are called to give is far, far less a sacrifice to pay.

In your Christian life operate with a spirit of grace and compassion towards others as you would expect yourself to be treated.