Golden Rule

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. 

When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt.

Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:21-35)

Today’s Gospel is about hypocrisy and “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The latter is the "Golden Rule" of Leviticus 19:18 that was quoted by Jesus (refer to Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31).  This is a simple lesson for all of us who at one time or another are quite dim witted.  We are all capable of being hypocrites.  

Forgiveness can be tough.  Jesus said to forgive our brother [and sister] from our hearts. That can be awfully difficult when they have poured ice on our hearts through cruel and demeaning behavior. It can seem impossible when our wounds are still festering from the hurt they have inflicted.  

Perhaps Jesus’ parable is a reminder that we often wield the knife and cut deep.  None of us is innocent.  If we expect forgiveness, then it’s best we think about forgiving the ice-bearer and wound-giver 77 times.  

Deacon David Pierce