Too Forgiving?

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.” And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.” (John 20:21-23)

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Reverend Courtney shared several points. Today, let’s reflect on the responsibility and accountability of the sent.

Sent as Stewards. Jesus calls us to serve as His building managers. He says, “I will build My church… I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.” (see Matthew 16:18-19) Though He is the one who builds, we are the ones who act on His behalf in the earth.

Sent with Resources. “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:7) Jesus, who breathes His Spirit into us (John 20:22), has given us spiritual graces—gifts of God, intended to be used for the glory of God.

The System of Forgiveness. “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.” (John 20:23) We are ambassadors of Christ. We, like Him, have the authority to absolve. And, in order to retain our position as ambassadors, we must forgive. The Lord’s Prayer shows that our state of being forgiven is bound with the state of our own heart concerning forgiveness: “and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.” (Luke 11:4a)

Then Peter came to him and said, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy times seven!

“For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. As he began settling his accounts, a man who owed ten thousand talents was brought to him. Because he was not able to repay it, the lord ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made. Then the slave threw himself to the ground before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.’ The lord had compassion on that slave and released him, and forgave him the debt.

After he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred silver coins. So he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ Then his fellow slave threw himself down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.’ But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt.

When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very upset and went and told their lord everything that had taken place. Then his lord called the first slave and said to him, ‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me! Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?’ And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture him until he repaid all he owed. So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:21-35)