Choosing to be merciful is always a good thing.  Matthew 18.15-17; 21-35

Back in Bible college I remember a question on a New Testament exam: ‘Describe the Matthew eighteen principle, as Jesus taught about harmony in the Church’.  Full credit would be given to the student who answered, ‘If another Christian injures me, I go to that person and tell her; hopefully, she will see her wrong, apologize, and right relationship restored.’  Hands dusted off, all good.

‘If however, she does not admit her wrong and apologize, I take another person with me to witness our discussion, and hopefully then she will see the error of her ways and make things right.  If however, she still will not own her wrong behavior, I bring it before the ‘church’ (pastor or elders or governing body); if she STILL refuses, she is pretty much dead to me.  She is seen as hard hearted, unrepentant and out of fellowship.’  Could that be?

Hmmm . . .let’s take another look at what Jesus says, and think:  “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you.  If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”  Think—the ‘church’ was not established when Jesus taught this; the church did not come to be until after Jesus ascended into heaven and the Holy Spirit came to inhabit believers (Acts 1 and 2).  Hmmm.

Next … think!  How did Jesus treat a pagan or a tax collector?  Did he shun them?  Nope he went after them, in the vein of the lone sheep separated from the 99.  It seems as though he redoubled his efforts.  Why, the very writer of this gospel had been a reviled tax collector before he answered Jesus’ call!  There is certainly merit in keeping accounts short with other people, (as Jesus’ teaching here has specific application to fellow believers).  And I bear in mind what Paul said, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12.19. And choosing to be merciful is always a good thing.

Apparently, this got the disciples thinking, because then Peter asks him about forgiveness.  ‘How many times do I forgive my brother who sins against me, Lord – seven times?’  You know, many are familiar with Peter’s question and even Jesus’ answer … but did you know that the rabbis of the day taught that one only needed to forgive three times?  Jesus blows that right out of the water when Peter thinks he is magnanimously offering to forgive seven times—nope, 70 x 7, Jesus says.  In other words, keep forgiving.  The passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18%3A21-35&version=RSV&interface=print  And choosing to be merciful is always a good thing.

In practical terms, we would say someone who needed forgiveness that many times was just taking advantage, right?  That certainly is how we would look at it in today’s world.  ‘Buddy, you’re a sucker if you keep forgiving her!’  And yet it seems that Jesus is saying there should be no end to our forgiveness.  He tells the story of the debtor who owed more money than he could ever repay over a lifetime, yet when he begged for mercy, his debt was forgiven.  Then when his path crossed someone who owed him very little, he was shamefully harsh, and unforgiving.  He who had known great mercy should have chosen to be merciful – always a good thing.

The parallel -  God and his forgiveness of us.

God graciously forgives us all of our sins, how then can we not forgive others?  Jesus gave us the standard in his sermon on the mount: “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”  Matthew 6.14-15 

Did you read it?  Yikes.  I’m thinking that our default ought be, when in doubt, show mercy.  Our Lord’s brother wrote, “There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.”  James 2.13  Choosing to be merciful is always a good thing.

With regard to forgiveness, the challenge lies in keeping our feelings and egos in check.  We find it difficult to forgive when we have been hurt, but somehow we forget that our Lord is hurt when we choose to sin.  If he forgives, we must forgive.  Jesus makes the standard crystal clear.

And choosing to be merciful is always a good thing.