A parable told by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, 18:23-34 is on the theme of mercy. There are three key characters: a king, one of his servants who owed him at least $12 million, and another individual who owed the king’s servant the equivalent of 3 months’ salary. The king’s judgment was to sell the servant and his family into slavery for the debt. When the servant begged for more time to repay, the king, responded in mercy and cancelled the debt - a substantial cost. If you’ve ever had to write off a debt, you can identify with the situation to some extent. The servant left the king and the text indicates he looked for a man who owed him 3 months’ wages and demanded immediate payment. The servant rejected this man’s appeal for more time to pay, showed him no mercy by having him tossed into debtors’ prison. What is mercy? (dictionary) a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion; not getting something we do deserve, e.g., judgment on sin; a warning ticket (or maybe even a verbal warning) instead of a speeding ticket. Let’s take a look at some features of mercy - what it is and is not; what it does, does not and should not do. Mercy does not... have strings attached (“I’ll extend mercy if...”). The king in the parable did not set any conditions. look for publicity (like giving - Mt. 6:3). General principle in Scripture. There obviously would be witnesses to the king’s action, but the text doesn’t indicate that he gave a proclamation of his generosity. belittle the one receiving it - the king did not scold the servant (the prayers of David and others for God’s mercy are clearly given with an expectation of receiving it and with no sense of being made to feel small or inadequate) Ps. 51:1-3 (LEB), Be gracious to me, O God, according to your loyal love. According to your abundant mercies, blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and from my sin cleanse me. 3 For I myself know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. make God love you more for extending it.(1 John 3:1, See what manner of love...; Eph. 1:4-5, chosen before the foundation of the world; in love predestined to adoption.) Simply put, nothing you or I can or will do can change God’s love. Pretend there is no offense (the servant had an unpayable debt to the king; I had an unpayable debt to the King of kings) Mercy does... give God pleasure (God takes pleasure in our obedience [1 S. 15:22] and when we honor His name [Mal. 1:9]) honor His name (can do that by saying you’re extending mercy because God has shown mercy to you) give Him glory (shows His character - Eph. 2:3-5; 1 T. 1:12-16) refresh the one receiving it (lifts burden; can provide a fresh start; Jn 8:11, to woman, “Go, and sin no more...”) Mercy should not... be given grudgingly (Ro. 12:8 (LEB), if it is one who exhorts, by exhortation; one who gives, with sincerity; one who leads, with diligence; one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.) be seen as an entitlement (mercy not always possible or appropriate - Ec. 8:11; a couple of miles over the speed limit, maybe a warning; 20 miles over the speed limit in a school zone - probably not) Mercy is... easier for some than others (Ro. 12:8, one of 4 lists of spiritual gifts - extend mercy cheerfully) not reserved for spiritually gifted or elite (Mt. 5:7 (LEB), Blessed are the merciful, because they will be shown mercy; sermon on mount for all Christ-followers) available when we ask (Pr. 28:13 (LEB), He who conceals his transgression will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes will obtain mercy.; Heb. 4:16) limited by our authority to grant it (can’t give it vicariously [offense has to be against me]; may be judicially limited) not always acknowledged with thanks or appreciation at the human level (why we should grant it with God in view, how we can please and honor Him; 9 of 10 lepers healed by Jesus did not give thanks) something we all require at one time or another; everyone who has come to faith in Christ has received mercy (Eph. 2:3-5) "Mercy" is found in at least 31 (42, if include an alternate translation “compassion”) of the 66 books of the Bible; two books where “mercy” or “compassion” are conspicuously absent are Judges and Revelation - not terribly surprising. The take-aways: God is more willing to extend mercy than we are. We tend to be thin-skinned and hard-hearted; God expects us to be thick-skinned and tender-hearted. Extending mercy pleases God, honors His name, refreshes both the one receiving it and the one granting it. And, God is the only one with authority to grant mercy vicariously, as with forgiveness. The good news is that God’s mercy is obtainable through faith in Christ, freely for the asking. Eph. 2:3-5 (LEB), 3 among whom also we all formerly lived in the desires of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and of the mind, and we were children of wrath by nature, as also the rest of them were. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 and we being dead in trespasses, he made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved)
Posted on: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:23:13 +0000
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