Matthew 18,21-35,2026
God of wisdom, prepare our hearts and minds to receive your Word. Where it challenges us, lead us by your Spirit to respond in faithfulness for the sake of Christ who gives us both courage and compassion. Amen.
Do not judge one another, we read today in Romans
An easy thing to say
Not so easy to do
A story that comes to my mind when hearing this advice is a scene from the movie Kindergarten Cop
The movie stars Arnold Schwarzenegger who is a police officer, John Kimble, who goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher
He has no teacher training and falls back on what has worked for him in his police training
The principal is dubious about Kimble’s methods, but gives him a chance to prove himself
As Kimble comes to know his class better, he becomes fond of the children
He becomes aware that one boy has a father who is abusing both the boy and his mother
The mother is too intimidated to press charges
And the school doesn’t have enough concrete data to press charges
John Kimble decides to take matters into his own hands
He decks the guy
After the incident he is called into the principal’s office where she lists all the doubts she had about his methods
But somehow, she says, what you have been doing had worked
But today, this – when you hit that man
There is a long pause, and then she says
Tell me, she says, when you hit him, did it feel good?
I think it is easy for most people to relate to the principal
As much as we would like to think that peace making will work,
There is a part of all of us that has that desire for revenge
We may feel that it needs to be kept for only extreme cases
But there are few people who are completely empty of a desire for revenge
This story puts the issue in an amusing package
But the destruction and ruin that come about because people are not able to forgive is anything but amusing
And here we have Jesus telling Peter to forgive 77 times (some translations of the Bible say 77 times, some say 70×7)
Now Peter thought he was being pretty noble when he suggested that he might forgive someone 7 times
And what does Jesus do?
He doesn’t say any of the things that Peter was hoping for
He doesn’t say, “Good effort Pete”
He doesn’t say, “Well as a general rule forgiving 7 times is pretty good, but there are these few wrongs for which I’ll allow a grudge to be carried”
No Jesus tells a parable about a man who was forgiven a huge debt
And this man is able to receive forgiveness and have it not touch his heart
This man is forgiven by the king
And the size of the debt which is forgiven is so large that it would immediately grab the attention of the original audience
10,000 talents was more money than a slave would ever hope to see in a lifetime, much less posses
A talent was about 15 year’s wages
The slave is called to account and he pleads with the king
And the king forgives the debt
The slave leaves the conversation free of the financial burden
Shortly thereafter the same man comes across another person who is need of the same sort of forgiveness, but on a smaller scale
In response this man is vengeful and vindictive
Why?
How could a person receive such kindness and show such spite?
The first man in the parable was freed of his debt, but he was still a prisoner to his smallness of character
But before I am too quick to jump on this man in the parable
I must confess that sometimes I am guilty of the same thing
From God I have received forgiveness
All the shortcomings in my life have been put aside
I have a place in the family of God
I am a dearly loved child of God
And if that wasn’t enough, God has given me health, family, education
And still
When certain things happen a certain way
My thoughts are not kind
And a desire for plainly stated – revenge – is present
Now for the big issues I can more or less get it sorted out
On a large scale I hope for and pray that our world leaders will practise peace
I celebrate every endeavour that promotes global justice
I admire those who serve through development agencies to bring clean water, nutrition and health care to place where they are needed
I pray for this work and I support it financially
I try to offer my time to community groups that will work for improved standards of living
The big picture is sort of easy
If I love my neighbour as myself
Then helping those who need help is definitely a thing a Christian should do
The problem isn’t with the big picture
At least not for me so much
What I find harder is the details in the day to day relationships
In the up close and personal dealings
In a sermon by Anna Carter Florence this point is brought home
Anna Carter Florence is an American minister, and she shared a sermon online in which she preached on the parable of the unforgiving servant
The example she used in describing the need for forgiveness is a person in a church council meeting who consistently highjacks the meeting
This one had been spoken to about the topic and he or she just doesn’t seem to care about others’ concerns or time interests
This one drags the session out
And has the poor minister either wondering, “Does forgiveness make me look like a wimp?”
Or, wondering, where was the course in seminary that gave you tips on counting to 77?
What exactly constitutes an item for which a person has been forgiven?
It’s easier to pray for a change of heart and wish well to a politician in Africa than it is for a person across the table from yourself
Florence also talks about the university freshman who has a terrible roommate
A gossipy, spiteful girl who doesn’t acknowledge her existence
How do you forgive a person who won’t even accept that you exist?
Easier by far to pray for the turning around of the heart of the CEO of a multi-national corporation who lives far away and far beyond your day to day circle
Paul in his letter to the Romans is also talking about forgiveness
Our passage in Romans reminds us to not judge one another
And reminds us that every knee shall bow to God and every tongue will give praise to God
From Jesus saying forgive 77 times to Paul saying don’t judge
It seems that harmony, peace and good order are what God has in mind for the people of God
So if we use these two lessons to be guides to how to resolve life’s dilemmas
How would we look at what is happening in our world
In our families
Our communities
Our nation
The global community
This year marks 25 years since the attacks in the US when innocent civilians were killed
And when people recoiled in disbelief and alarm as we heard and watched news reports of the happenings on Sept 11, 2001
Much discussion happened this week as newscasts carried updates of what has happened in the meantime
We have heard from survivors and family members of victims
In the face of what is happening to those who grieve and those who continue to question, preachers worked to prepare services that would address the feelings of the people in the pew
Sermons that would reconcile the feelings of the people with the words from the Bible
Preachers in their blogs and articles confessing to knowing they need to forgive
But confessing also that they hold onto a need for what they understand to be justice, or even revenge
And we have learned in the last 25 years that all Muslims are not Taliban
And we have worked as part of the global community to help others have responsible government
It is easy to talk forgiveness, and harder to live it
You may have seen the play “Come From Away” which is set in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
It shows the response of the folks in Gander who offered hospitality to those who were stranded after the 9-11 attacks
This play also gives insight into how those who were stranded felt as they were being transported on buses from the plane to a destination that was unknown to them
Many of the folks had now English, they had no idea where they were or why they were there
The folks of Gander could have been impatient with the fear and felt that they were doing enough to give a meal and a bed
Instead there was real concern and a wish calm the worried and troubled spirits of those who were unexpected guests to Gander
In the play someone from Gander noticed a traveller clutching a Bible
Now this Bible was not in English, but the Newfoundlander trusted that the content would be the same
The reference Philippians 4:6 was shared
And the traveller was able to read “don’t be anxious”
Instead of judging those who needed a lot of help, one believer used the commonality of scripture to connect
Living as those who have received forgiveness is not easy
Which is why we find that scripture includes a lot of stories about conflict
And in response to the pain of people, over and over God says “Where can you go from my spirit?”
In the midst of whatever trauma is thrown our way God is there
And when we feel anger at others
When gorge rises in our throat and we feel we will choke on the rage that rises within us
God is there
And as we look at our world
A place torn by conflict and violence
A place where we try to make peace by fighting
A place where we educate and equip, only to see violence attack the education
God is there in all of that
God says you are my children
And as I say, forgive 77 times and judge not, so I will do
And because God is holy, just and true we have hope that we may live as forgiven people who can demonstrate forgiveness in our way of being
In a little over a week we will observe International Day of Peace
In 1981 September 21 was established by the United Nations to be the Day of Peace
It provides a chance for individuals, groups and nations to reflect on and take action to promote peace within their communities.
Today, peace feels elusive as we bear witness to conflicts and emergencies in Iran, Sudan, Gaza, Haiti, Yemen and elsewhere.
Yet, even in the darkest times, inspired by our faith, we find hope in the efforts to bring relief.
PWS&D is dedicated to promoting peace by delivering lifesaving aid to those affected by conflict around the world and by engaging in advocacy to decry injustices. As we observe this day, let us reflect on Jesus’ words: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).
God calls us to be children of God
To be peacemakers
To live the peace that God gives in big ways and small ones
Christ you call us all to service
Call us all who follow you
Plant in us a deep commitment
All your work and will to do
Fire a passion for your justice
In us kindle love of peace
Help us heal the broken hearted
to the captive bring releasee
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION
Teach responses “God of changed hearts Renew the future for us all”
God of grace and new life,
we come before you today, glad to know you give us the chance to change our lives
when we have wandered away from your purposes.
We give you thanks for the encouragement and support we receive from friends in Christ,
here in your church and wherever we meet them.
We thank you for relationships that have grown stronger
through the courage to forgive which you inspire in us.
Use us as signs and servants of the new possibilities you create.
God of changed hearts, Renew the future for us all.
Christ our Companion,
make our community one that lives out your grace and mercy.
Today we pray for those among us and around us who are struggling to live wisely and well,
who seek a way of integrity for the future.
We pray for those who are confronting addictions
or trying to change old habits that are harmful to health:
give them persistence and support
We pray for those who want to end violence and anger in their lives:
give them courage and wisdom to walk a new way
God of changed hearts, Renew the future for us all.
We pray for those who have broken the law and now seek to make amends:
Inspire us with good judgement and grace in action and relationships.
We pray for those who have broken their word and want to rebuild trust and integrity:
show them how to take responsibility and live it out.
God of changed hearts, Renew the future for us all.
We pray for those who are seeking new work, learning new skills, or changing employment:
open new opportunities for them.
We pray for all of us who seek new ways to live out our faith
in this church and in this community:
help us communicate God’s love in fresh ways so others catch the vision of your love.
God of changed hearts, Renew the future for us all.
We pray in silence for all those for whom the week ahead will hold deep challenges,
and who need your support and ours to face what the days will bring
Keep silence for 15 seconds
Spirit of transforming power, work in us and in all for whom we pray, hear us as we pray in Jesus’ name Amen
COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTION
Jesus set the challenging goal before us: to forgive someone not just seven times, but seventy times seven. So, take up the challenge as you go, and allow forgiveness to change your life.
And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and communion in the Holy Spirit bless and redeem you now and evermore.