Unwilling

The parable Jesus told in Matt.18:21-35 is one of the most revealing of any He told to help us understand His mind and that of His Father. Slave #1 owed the king $100,000,000 and could not possibly pay it. The king had compassion on him and forgave the debt. Do you know how it feels when you no longer have a debt because you worked hard to pay it off? Now, do you know how it would be for your debt-holder to simply forgive the debt in full with no further obligation? There is a sense of freedom found in that should inspire gratitude and good-will to others. It is the story of the conversion of Ebenezer Scrooge. He was giddy when the burden of his stinginess was lifted. It would be like the feeling you would get to win the lottery. But, there is a hook in it as we see in this story. Everyone is not affected in the same way. Along comes Slave #2, the one who owes Slave #1 100 days of work. Does Slave #1 let his new freedom spill over into the life of Slave #2? No! Why not? He is "unwilling" to forgive in spite of being forgiven a much greater debt.

Let that sink in. "Unwilling." How could he be "unwilling?" What thought pattern could possibly lead one to think himself justified to hold a fellow slave accountable for paying a debt he cannot pay while basking in the sunshine of forgiveness yourself? "Unwilling!" This just is not right. This should not be. The other slaves saw it clearly. They were "deeply grieved." It is the same word used for the grief suffered by the Holy Spirit when we sin. The "unwillingness" of Slave #1 brought great distress to everyone who knew of it. Our spirits are affected by the non-forgiveness of others who themselves have been forgiven. "Freely we have received and therefore freely we give." How can we not liberally convey on others something that cost us little when we have in turn received from another something that cost Him everything? Do we not realize how great a salvation we have? Do we not taste how sweet forgiveness is? Is something messed up in our spiritual psyche to cause us not to understand these things?

There is much arrogance in being "unwilling." The grace applied to me is not applicable to others. I deserve for my debt to be written off while others who owe me have to pay or be kept in prison until they do. Jesus is driving a point home with His apostles they must see. There is no compromise on this matter. They cannot be fit apostles of grace unless they first understand how much they have been forgiven, and then clearly let others know how much Jesus is willing to forgive them. Do you see the word in the last sentence? "Willing." Jesus is willing. Jesus is willing. He wants to forgive our debt. He is searching for folks who are over their heads and He wants to stamp "paid in full" on the receipt. He is willing to see every person on earth be debt-free. Are we as eager to see the people who owe us be forgiven? Do we seek out people who harm us and offer to cancel the debt they owe us? Are we "willing" or "unwilling?"