WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.580 It's been a privilege and an honour to be with you this morning and to share God's word 00:00:08.580 --> 00:00:09.540 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:46.320 Lord God, maker of heaven and earth, our help is in you. So may now by the power of your 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:53.280 Holy Spirit, will you come and speak to us through your word so that your Son, our Saviour, 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:58.879 may be glorified in our lives. And we ask this in his name. Amen. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:11.319 On the 8th of November 1987, an IRA bomb exploded in the town of Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:17.700 Northern Ireland. It was a Sunday afternoon and people had gathered in the city, in the 00:01:17.700 --> 00:01:26.420 town centre, at the war memorial for a Remembrance Day ceremony. Eleven people were killed, 63 00:01:26.420 --> 00:01:33.159 were injured. It became known as the Poppy Day Massacre. The youngest to die that day was 00:01:33.159 --> 00:01:42.659 a young lady by the name of Marie Wilson. She'd just recently qualified as a nurse. After the 00:01:42.659 --> 00:01:49.900 bomb went off, Gordon Wilson, Marie Wilson's father, lay under the rubble and shouted to 00:01:49.900 --> 00:02:02.219 his daughter, are you all right? She found his hand and said, is that your hand, Dad? He said, 00:02:02.219 --> 00:02:14.620 are you all right? And she said, yes. He asked her for a fifth time, are you all right? And she said, Daddy, 00:02:14.620 --> 00:02:26.860 I love you very much. And those were the last words that she spoke. Hours later, Gordon Wilson gave an interview 00:02:26.860 --> 00:02:36.700 with the BBC. I remember as a kid watching it on TV that night. He described with anguish in front of the cameras, 00:02:37.900 --> 00:02:45.340 the conversation with his daughter and his feelings towards her killers. She held my hand tightly, he said, 00:02:45.660 --> 00:02:56.300 and gripped it as hard as she could. She said, Daddy, I love you very much. Those were her exact words to me. 00:02:56.860 --> 00:03:07.740 And those were the last words I ever heard her say. And then, to the astonishment of his listeners, Wilson said these words, 00:03:07.740 --> 00:03:22.700 but I bear no ill will. I bear no grudge. Dirty sort of talk of revenge is not going to bring her back. 00:03:22.699 --> 00:03:40.699 I will pray for these men tonight and every night. Historian Jonathan Barlin recounts new words in more than 25 years of violence in Northern Ireland had such a powerful emotional impact. 00:03:40.699 --> 00:03:47.579 A cup brimful of sweet water. 00:03:47.579 --> 00:03:57.659 A cup brimful of sweet water when jolted only spills sweet water. 00:03:57.659 --> 00:04:04.699 And that day, Gordon Wilson's cup was violently jolted. 00:04:06.139 --> 00:04:12.539 And the only thing it spilled was the sweet water of forgiveness. 00:04:12.539 --> 00:04:20.459 And the question is, what gives birth to that sort of forgiveness? 00:04:21.659 --> 00:04:26.719 To that sort of quick and unconditional forgiveness? 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:41.060 Perhaps tonight you are here and you are someone who knows the pain of losing a loved one like Gordon Wilson at the hands of the evil acts of another person or group. 00:04:41.940 --> 00:04:49.220 And I'm sure you know only too well how deep Gordon Wilson would have to have dug to say those words. 00:04:49.220 --> 00:04:54.880 And to live them out in the days and weeks and years that followed. 00:04:55.840 --> 00:05:02.840 But for the majority of us here, I imagine that the offenses that we have received are not on that scale. 00:05:03.260 --> 00:05:04.840 And we should keep that in mind. 00:05:05.860 --> 00:05:07.160 We should keep that in mind. 00:05:09.160 --> 00:05:11.160 But they are nevertheless real. 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:13.220 They nevertheless hurt. 00:05:14.020 --> 00:05:16.660 And forgiveness is never easy. 00:05:16.660 --> 00:05:20.900 That comment that that person made to you that time. 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:23.040 That thing they did to you. 00:05:23.620 --> 00:05:29.180 That thing they returned to you in bad condition but never acknowledged that they'd broken it. 00:05:29.980 --> 00:05:32.380 That snub at church the other week. 00:05:33.100 --> 00:05:35.160 That lie that they told you. 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:37.280 That, that, that. 00:05:37.820 --> 00:05:40.540 We all have a that moment, don't we? 00:05:40.540 --> 00:05:47.960 But whatever it is that that someone or some group has done to us, forgiveness is never easy. 00:05:48.220 --> 00:05:50.340 It always costs. 00:05:52.820 --> 00:05:57.200 But if we are Christians, if we claim to follow the Christ, 00:05:58.620 --> 00:06:01.200 then forgiveness is not an option. 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:07.279 It's not something that you can choose whether you want to do it or not as a Christian. 00:06:08.740 --> 00:06:12.459 Forgiveness is essential to the Christian life. 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:18.959 Martin Luther, the German reformer, said that the continual forgiveness of our neighbor 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:22.980 is the primary and foremost duty of Christians, 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:27.659 second only to faith and the reception of forgiveness. 00:06:27.660 --> 00:06:34.020 Second only to receiving forgiveness from Christ. 00:06:36.520 --> 00:06:39.720 The continual forgiveness of our neighbor. 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:43.020 And it's in this passage in Matthew chapter 18 00:06:43.020 --> 00:06:46.180 that Jesus helps us with this issue of forgiveness. 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:51.200 In fact, it is in this parable that we learn how Gordon Wilson could offer 00:06:51.200 --> 00:06:54.580 such quick and unconditional forgiveness. 00:06:54.579 --> 00:06:58.979 Jesus makes three very simple points in this parable. 00:06:59.099 --> 00:06:59.680 Number one. 00:07:02.579 --> 00:07:05.819 Our forgiveness of others must be unlimited. 00:07:06.339 --> 00:07:08.620 Our forgiveness of others must be unlimited. 00:07:08.819 --> 00:07:11.159 Verses 21 to 22. 00:07:12.539 --> 00:07:14.560 Then Peter came and said to him, 00:07:14.620 --> 00:07:19.060 Lord, how often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him? 00:07:19.560 --> 00:07:21.159 As many as seven times? 00:07:21.160 --> 00:07:22.939 Jesus said to him, 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:25.960 I do not say to you seven times, 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:28.900 but seventy-seven times. 00:07:30.700 --> 00:07:32.860 Now in order to understand Peter's question, 00:07:32.960 --> 00:07:35.720 we have to back up a little and understand the context. 00:07:35.940 --> 00:07:39.020 Did you notice the word then at the beginning of verse 21? 00:07:40.700 --> 00:07:46.879 Peter only asks this question because of what Jesus has been saying in verses 15 to 20. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:52.079 There Jesus was addressing the problem of an unrepentant sinner. 00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:54.560 If a person sins, 00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:56.939 you are to go and confront them. 00:07:56.980 --> 00:07:58.279 If they are unrepentant, 00:07:58.420 --> 00:08:00.560 you are to go and confront them with their sin. 00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:02.360 And if they refuse to repent, 00:08:02.600 --> 00:08:04.420 then you get two or three witnesses together. 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:05.879 You confront them again. 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:07.519 And if they refuse to repent, 00:08:08.459 --> 00:08:10.040 then you go and tell it to the church. 00:08:10.259 --> 00:08:11.980 And then you treat them as an unbeliever. 00:08:11.980 --> 00:08:14.840 And Peter says, 00:08:15.080 --> 00:08:16.160 Okay, Lord, I get you. 00:08:16.259 --> 00:08:19.180 I get what to do if the person is unrepentant. 00:08:19.259 --> 00:08:25.040 But what do I do if the person does say sorry and I forgive them? 00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:26.900 And then the next week, 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:27.960 they do it again. 00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:29.819 And I forgive them. 00:08:30.520 --> 00:08:31.660 And then the next week, 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:33.139 they do it again. 00:08:33.700 --> 00:08:34.800 And I forgive them. 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:37.139 What do I do then? 00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:42.240 And that is the situation that Peter puts to Jesus. 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:43.639 And Peter says, 00:08:44.059 --> 00:08:45.559 What about seven times? 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:46.840 Is that enough? 00:08:48.899 --> 00:08:51.120 Now, seven is actually a generous number. 00:08:51.319 --> 00:08:54.399 The rabbis taught that you forgive someone three times, 00:08:55.299 --> 00:08:56.340 a repeated offender. 00:08:56.460 --> 00:08:57.580 You forgive them three times. 00:08:57.620 --> 00:08:58.840 And after that, no more. 00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:01.539 Because if you had to keep forgiving them more than three times, 00:09:01.620 --> 00:09:03.740 they clearly weren't repentant the first time. 00:09:03.740 --> 00:09:07.379 So, Peter's calculation is generous. 00:09:07.580 --> 00:09:09.259 It's double the standard plus one. 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:12.100 So, he's looking all self-righteous. 00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:13.860 And look at what Jesus says. 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:15.039 Verse 22. 00:09:15.180 --> 00:09:16.840 I do not say to you seven times, 00:09:17.419 --> 00:09:19.120 but seventy-seven times. 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:21.720 Some of your translations may say 00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:22.960 seventy times seven, 00:09:23.340 --> 00:09:24.620 or four hundred and ninety. 00:09:25.299 --> 00:09:27.639 But seventy times seven is just another, 00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:31.000 it's an idiom in Greek for saying seventy-seven. 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:35.100 Now, the number seventy-seven is not just plucked out of Jesus' head. 00:09:35.620 --> 00:09:37.919 It's not just doubling what Peter has said, 00:09:38.019 --> 00:09:39.200 seven seventy-seven. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:41.720 Does anybody in here know where in the Bible 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:43.820 the number seventy-seven crops up? 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:49.799 Genesis chapter 4, verse 24. 00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:53.879 If Cain is avenged seven times, 00:09:54.519 --> 00:09:57.720 then Lamech seventy-seven times. 00:09:57.720 --> 00:10:01.300 Cain felt slighted by Abel 00:10:01.300 --> 00:10:03.340 getting favor with God, 00:10:03.420 --> 00:10:06.440 and so he avenged him sevenfold by killing him, 00:10:07.060 --> 00:10:10.879 and Lamech, one of Cain's great-great-grandsons, 00:10:11.080 --> 00:10:11.460 says, 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:14.379 that is nothing to the revenge 00:10:14.379 --> 00:10:17.600 that I will execute on the person who wrongs me. 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:21.060 If Cain sought revenge sevenfold, 00:10:21.220 --> 00:10:23.680 I will seek it seventy-sevenfold. 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:28.699 It is disproportionate retaliation. 00:10:28.859 --> 00:10:30.519 And it's how the world works, isn't it? 00:10:30.699 --> 00:10:31.620 A cutting word, 00:10:32.039 --> 00:10:33.199 and what's the retaliation? 00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:34.519 A raised fist. 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:35.500 A raised fist, 00:10:35.859 --> 00:10:37.120 and what's the retaliation? 00:10:37.459 --> 00:10:38.419 Lethal weapon. 00:10:38.759 --> 00:10:39.779 A lethal weapon, 00:10:40.359 --> 00:10:42.000 and what's the retaliation? 00:10:42.779 --> 00:10:44.039 Overwhelming force. 00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:45.399 Obliterate them. 00:10:46.479 --> 00:10:48.079 And Jesus takes this approach, 00:10:48.539 --> 00:10:50.459 and he turns it inside out, 00:10:50.659 --> 00:10:51.539 upside down, 00:10:51.539 --> 00:10:52.679 and back to front. 00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:55.699 He says, 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:56.519 in my kingdom, 00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:58.459 the attitude of forgiveness 00:10:58.459 --> 00:11:01.839 is as far in the opposite direction of Lamech's 00:11:01.839 --> 00:11:04.139 as anything you've ever seen. 00:11:04.299 --> 00:11:08.159 It is utterly disproportionate forgiveness. 00:11:08.579 --> 00:11:10.479 Peter, stop counting. 00:11:11.439 --> 00:11:13.419 Numbers and records and lists 00:11:13.419 --> 00:11:17.039 are for people who are self-righteous. 00:11:18.519 --> 00:11:19.279 Jesus says, 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:21.199 Peter, when my people come to forgiveness, 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:23.780 they are mathematically inept. 00:11:25.800 --> 00:11:26.640 If you are counting, 00:11:27.740 --> 00:11:29.640 then you are not forgiving. 00:11:32.300 --> 00:11:34.780 And then Jesus gives Peter a reason 00:11:34.780 --> 00:11:38.100 why our forgiveness is to be unlimited. 00:11:39.020 --> 00:11:41.280 And so he tells in verse 23 and following, 00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:42.640 a parable. 00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:44.580 And through this parable, 00:11:44.780 --> 00:11:46.700 Jesus makes a very simple point, 00:11:46.700 --> 00:11:48.340 and it's our second point. 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:51.020 Our forgiveness of others is to be unlimited. 00:11:51.020 --> 00:11:52.140 That's the first point. 00:11:52.920 --> 00:11:57.680 Because God's forgiveness of us is unequaled. 00:11:58.040 --> 00:12:00.400 Our forgiveness of others is to be unlimited. 00:12:00.940 --> 00:12:01.940 Because, second, 00:12:02.800 --> 00:12:06.759 our God's forgiveness of us is unequaled. 00:12:06.860 --> 00:12:09.480 Verses 23 to 34. 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:12.420 Now this parable, 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:14.920 we could break it down into three scenes. 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:17.940 The first scene is in the king's audience chamber. 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:20.820 Verses 24 to 27. 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:23.360 And it involves a conversation between a king 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:25.279 and one of his servants. 00:12:26.259 --> 00:12:27.840 And then in scene two, 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:30.420 it's in the servant's hall. 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:32.440 Verses 28 to 31. 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:34.759 And it involves a conversation 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:36.220 between the first servant, 00:12:36.980 --> 00:12:38.879 who met with the king in the audience chamber, 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:40.159 and a second servant. 00:12:41.100 --> 00:12:42.600 And then the third scene 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:45.480 returns to the king's audience chamber. 00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:48.340 Verses 31 to 34. 00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:52.840 As the king readdresses the first servant. 00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:56.580 So it's a bit like an episode of Downton Abbey. 00:12:57.580 --> 00:12:57.939 Right? 00:12:58.159 --> 00:12:59.620 You've got Lord Grantham. 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:02.720 He addresses Thomas in the main living room. 00:13:03.220 --> 00:13:05.740 And then Thomas addresses Mr. Bates 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:07.559 in the servant's quarters downstairs. 00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:09.959 And then the other servants get wind 00:13:09.959 --> 00:13:11.359 of what's happened. 00:13:11.479 --> 00:13:13.039 And the whispers filter back up 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:14.019 into the main house. 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:16.659 And Lord Grantham finally calls Thomas 00:13:16.659 --> 00:13:17.879 back into the living room. 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:19.699 And they have a conversation. 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:22.399 So it's an ancient episode 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:23.899 of Downton Abbey. 00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:28.219 Well, let's take a look at scene one. 00:13:28.939 --> 00:13:31.500 Verses 23 to 24. 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:33.419 Therefore, the kingdom of heaven 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:34.779 may be compared 00:13:34.779 --> 00:13:37.120 to a king who wished to settle 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:38.340 accounts with his servants. 00:13:39.059 --> 00:13:40.480 When he began to settle, 00:13:40.659 --> 00:13:42.940 one servant was brought to him 00:13:42.940 --> 00:13:43.820 who owed him 00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:46.539 10,000 talents. 00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:49.419 Now in the first century, 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:51.860 kings often lent money and resources 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:53.139 to provincial governors 00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:54.840 and civil servants. 00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:56.759 They would come, receive the money, 00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:57.799 and they would go away 00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:59.159 and invest the money 00:13:59.159 --> 00:14:01.039 and then eventually pay back 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:01.580 the king, 00:14:02.299 --> 00:14:04.980 the loan that he had given them. 00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:07.240 So the scenario Jesus paints here 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:08.939 was really not that surprising 00:14:08.939 --> 00:14:10.120 to the audience. 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:11.340 What was surprising, 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:13.179 what was mega surprising, 00:14:13.700 --> 00:14:15.639 was the amount the servant owed. 00:14:16.179 --> 00:14:18.740 10,000 talents. 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:22.620 The annual taxation 00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:26.060 of Judea, Edomia, and Samaria 00:14:26.060 --> 00:14:30.120 together was 600 talents of silver. 00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:33.639 It was more, 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:35.480 10,000 talents was more 00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:37.419 than the entire coinage 00:14:37.419 --> 00:14:39.659 in circulation in Egypt at the time. 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:41.120 Okay? 00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:42.539 So this is surprising. 00:14:43.419 --> 00:14:44.600 Let me try and give you some 00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:47.799 indication of how much money this was. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:51.440 A talent was the highest 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:52.740 denomination of currency 00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:53.299 in those days. 00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:54.860 It's a bit like our 50 pound note. 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:57.779 And it was a piece of silver 00:14:57.779 --> 00:14:59.460 that weighed about 30 kilograms. 00:14:59.680 --> 00:15:01.000 That's about four stone. 00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:03.259 That's heavy. 00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:03.840 Okay? 00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:05.240 You've got to carry a talent around. 00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:08.700 A worker in these days 00:15:08.700 --> 00:15:10.659 earned a denarius 00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:11.799 for a day's work. 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:14.180 One talent was worth 00:15:14.180 --> 00:15:17.299 6,000 denarii. 00:15:17.299 --> 00:15:19.219 So one talent 00:15:19.219 --> 00:15:21.120 was 6,000 days 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:21.799 of work. 00:15:23.139 --> 00:15:23.979 That's about 00:15:23.979 --> 00:15:24.939 half a lifetime 00:15:24.939 --> 00:15:25.579 of work. 00:15:26.099 --> 00:15:26.620 One talent. 00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:28.479 And this guy, 00:15:28.579 --> 00:15:29.419 how much does he owe? 00:15:29.599 --> 00:15:30.159 He owes 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:32.000 10,000 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:32.719 talents. 00:15:33.219 --> 00:15:34.379 That's 60 million 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.120 denarii. 00:15:35.459 --> 00:15:35.839 That's 00:15:35.839 --> 00:15:37.279 300 tons 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:37.839 of silver. 00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:38.879 That's 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:40.359 60 million 00:15:40.359 --> 00:15:41.679 days of work. 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:43.039 That's 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:43.500 what he owes 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:44.019 this guy. 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:47.039 One commentator 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:47.859 says the equivalent 00:15:47.859 --> 00:15:48.959 of in our days 00:15:48.959 --> 00:15:49.599 not millions, 00:15:49.739 --> 00:15:50.279 not billions, 00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:51.459 not even trillions. 00:15:51.939 --> 00:15:52.799 What he owes him 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:53.599 is 00:15:53.599 --> 00:15:54.179 zillions. 00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:56.579 So, 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:57.339 here's 00:15:57.339 --> 00:15:58.419 hyperbole 00:15:58.419 --> 00:15:59.559 if you were here 00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:00.079 this morning. 00:16:01.979 --> 00:16:02.379 And Jesus 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:02.919 is working 00:16:02.919 --> 00:16:03.799 it to good effect. 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:04.919 This guy owes 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:06.099 an unimaginable 00:16:06.099 --> 00:16:07.259 incalculable 00:16:07.259 --> 00:16:07.719 debt. 00:16:08.579 --> 00:16:09.239 So of course 00:16:09.239 --> 00:16:09.699 the servant 00:16:09.699 --> 00:16:10.539 can't pay it back. 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.319 Verse 25 00:16:11.319 --> 00:16:12.559 And since 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:13.199 he could not 00:16:13.199 --> 00:16:14.079 pay his master, 00:16:14.439 --> 00:16:15.139 since he could not 00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:15.459 pay, 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:16.719 his master 00:16:16.719 --> 00:16:17.439 ordered him 00:16:17.439 --> 00:16:18.219 to be sold 00:16:18.219 --> 00:16:19.019 with his wife 00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:19.579 and children 00:16:19.579 --> 00:16:21.120 and all that he had 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:21.919 and payment 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:23.279 to be made. 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:24.500 Now this 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.600 was common enough 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:26.559 in the Gentile world. 00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:27.519 If you had a debt 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:28.600 and you couldn't pay it 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:30.220 then you were sold 00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:31.159 into service 00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:32.000 or slavery 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:32.720 of the person 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:33.819 you owed the money to 00:16:33.819 --> 00:16:35.639 or you were sold 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:36.339 to someone else 00:16:36.339 --> 00:16:37.240 and the money was given 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:39.299 to pay off the debt. 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:40.860 Now the price 00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:42.500 of an average slave 00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:43.799 could reach up 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:44.559 to one talent. 00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:46.919 It was actually 00:16:46.919 --> 00:16:47.480 more about 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:48.439 a tenth of a talent. 00:16:49.199 --> 00:16:50.659 About 500 denarii. 00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:52.079 500 days wages. 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:52.919 Now unless 00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:53.599 this guy 00:16:53.599 --> 00:16:54.799 is the most 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:55.839 fertile man 00:16:55.839 --> 00:16:56.479 in the world 00:16:56.479 --> 00:16:57.599 never mind 00:16:57.599 --> 00:16:58.079 the Middle East 00:16:58.079 --> 00:16:59.079 with about 500 00:16:59.079 --> 00:17:00.219 kids running around 00:17:00.219 --> 00:17:02.199 he ain't ever 00:17:02.199 --> 00:17:03.000 going to pay 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:03.740 this back. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.420 So even 00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:07.740 the king's request 00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:08.839 that this servant 00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:09.519 and his family 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:10.319 be sold 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:12.079 into his service 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:13.240 or someone else's service 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:14.099 and the money 00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:14.799 from that 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:16.079 paid back to him 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:17.240 is itself 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:18.299 an act of mercy. 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:19.680 This guy 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:20.220 would probably 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:20.740 have raised 00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:21.900 about seven 00:17:21.900 --> 00:17:22.579 talents 00:17:22.579 --> 00:17:23.559 from selling 00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:23.859 him 00:17:23.859 --> 00:17:24.640 and his kids. 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:27.120 But he owes 00:17:27.120 --> 00:17:29.420 10,000 talents. 00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:31.500 So even 00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.620 in these early 00:17:32.620 --> 00:17:33.140 stages 00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:34.279 there is 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:35.019 God's 00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:35.559 divine 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:36.299 mercy. 00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:38.019 And the servant's 00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:38.620 response 00:17:38.620 --> 00:17:39.380 is to fall 00:17:39.380 --> 00:17:40.059 on his knees 00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:40.880 and make a plea 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:41.519 to the king 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.500 verse 26. 00:17:43.180 --> 00:17:43.900 So the servant 00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:45.039 fell on his knees 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:46.420 imploring the king 00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:48.279 have patience 00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:48.840 with me 00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:50.140 and I will 00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:51.160 pay you 00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:51.820 everything. 00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:53.820 Now think about 00:17:53.820 --> 00:17:54.740 how unrealistic 00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:55.420 that is. 00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:56.740 If you just 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.400 be patient 00:17:57.400 --> 00:17:58.019 and give me 00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:58.980 600 million 00:17:58.980 --> 00:17:59.500 days 00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:00.080 I'll get you 00:18:00.080 --> 00:18:00.460 the money. 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:04.200 Never in his 00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:04.759 lifetime 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.500 would he pay 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:05.960 this back 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:06.519 and the king 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.039 knows it 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:07.680 and so he 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:08.440 responds 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:09.340 in verse 27 00:18:09.340 --> 00:18:10.539 and out of 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:11.700 pity for him 00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:13.460 the master 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.259 of that servant 00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:15.019 released him 00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:16.319 and forgive him 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:17.039 the death. 00:18:17.139 --> 00:18:17.500 Now the word 00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:18.279 pity is a bit 00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:18.740 weak. 00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:19.839 Even if you 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:20.500 have an NIV 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.359 or an ESV 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:22.019 it's a weak 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:22.799 translation. 00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:24.579 The equivalent 00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:25.119 in English 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:25.660 is really 00:18:25.660 --> 00:18:26.519 that the king's 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:28.559 heart wrenched 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:30.500 that he was 00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:31.379 gutted 00:18:31.379 --> 00:18:32.879 as he looked 00:18:32.879 --> 00:18:33.819 on the poverty 00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:34.639 of this man. 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:35.740 The word is 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.480 used of Jesus 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.440 a number of times 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:38.099 it's translated 00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:38.879 compassion 00:18:38.879 --> 00:18:40.220 in the gospels 00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:40.759 elsewhere. 00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:42.660 It is a deep 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:43.539 gutted 00:18:43.539 --> 00:18:44.339 feeling of 00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:44.980 compassion 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:46.019 for someone 00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:46.420 who is 00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:47.160 completely 00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:47.720 helpless. 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:49.099 And that 00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:49.420 is what 00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:50.059 this king 00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:51.000 feels 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:51.480 towards 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:52.079 this servant 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:53.180 and he 00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:54.519 releases him 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:55.539 from the 00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:55.900 debt. 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:57.099 Now this 00:18:57.099 --> 00:18:57.559 parable 00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:58.259 helps us 00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:58.920 to understand 00:18:58.920 --> 00:18:59.539 what forgiveness 00:18:59.539 --> 00:18:59.880 is. 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.400 I think 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:01.620 in the 00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:02.140 evangelical 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:02.640 church 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:02.920 today 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:03.299 there are 00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:03.539 a lot 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:03.720 of 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:04.660 superficial 00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:05.599 understandings 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:06.180 of forgiveness. 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.579 People think 00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.200 forgiveness is 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:09.759 just brushing 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.380 something under 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:10.819 the carpet 00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:11.279 or just 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:12.360 brushing it 00:19:12.360 --> 00:19:12.660 off. 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:13.700 or if 00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:13.960 you do 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:14.360 go to 00:19:14.360 --> 00:19:14.800 raise an 00:19:14.800 --> 00:19:15.019 issue 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.220 with 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:15.500 someone 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:15.820 and they 00:19:15.820 --> 00:19:15.980 say 00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:16.320 well if 00:19:16.320 --> 00:19:16.700 you're a 00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:16.940 Christian 00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:17.180 you're 00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:17.519 supposed to 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:17.880 forgive me 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.400 so why are you 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:19.080 raising this 00:19:19.080 --> 00:19:19.860 issue with me? 00:19:21.080 --> 00:19:21.880 But what this 00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:22.940 parable teaches us 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:23.420 is this 00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:24.120 to forgive 00:19:24.120 --> 00:19:24.620 someone 00:19:24.620 --> 00:19:25.720 is to put 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:26.560 the offense 00:19:26.560 --> 00:19:27.920 with its debt 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:28.840 on the table. 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:29.860 Do you notice that? 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:31.100 Jesus puts 00:19:31.100 --> 00:19:31.920 a number 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:33.080 on the debt. 00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:34.500 He says 00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.300 there's a debt 00:19:35.300 --> 00:19:36.759 and it's on the 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.080 table 00:19:37.080 --> 00:19:38.180 and only then 00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:39.080 and only then 00:19:39.080 --> 00:19:39.840 when the debt 00:19:39.840 --> 00:19:40.340 is put 00:19:40.340 --> 00:19:40.980 on the table 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:42.860 is the 00:19:42.860 --> 00:19:43.340 offender 00:19:43.340 --> 00:19:44.259 to be released 00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:45.140 from paying 00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:45.700 that debt. 00:19:45.820 --> 00:19:46.580 That is what 00:19:46.580 --> 00:19:47.420 forgiveness is. 00:19:47.580 --> 00:19:48.279 It does not 00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:49.220 involve brushing 00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:49.759 the debt 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:50.200 under the 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:50.500 carpet. 00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:51.940 It involves 00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:52.480 putting the 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:52.740 debt 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.200 on the 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:53.600 table. 00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:55.279 Naming 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:55.640 it 00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:56.420 blaming 00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:56.820 it 00:19:56.820 --> 00:19:57.820 condemning 00:19:57.820 --> 00:19:58.560 the offense 00:19:58.560 --> 00:20:00.160 and then 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.940 releasing 00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:01.860 the person 00:20:01.860 --> 00:20:02.779 from having 00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:03.420 to pay it. 00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:05.039 And what we 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:05.580 have here 00:20:05.580 --> 00:20:05.960 is an 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:06.740 unimaginable 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:07.080 debt 00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:07.519 and an 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.419 unmanageable 00:20:08.419 --> 00:20:08.699 debt. 00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:09.099 It is 00:20:09.099 --> 00:20:09.980 unpayable 00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:10.519 and yet 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:10.919 it is 00:20:10.919 --> 00:20:11.960 completely 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:13.139 wiped out. 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:14.259 Completely 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:14.939 wiped out. 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:17.319 And Jesus 00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:18.079 wants us to be 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:19.000 amazed at the 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:19.720 forgiveness of 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.220 this king. 00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:20.960 It is full. 00:20:21.179 --> 00:20:21.799 It is free. 00:20:22.159 --> 00:20:22.960 It is complete. 00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:23.799 No strings 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.339 attached. 00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:25.659 And that 00:20:25.659 --> 00:20:26.740 is a picture 00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:28.119 of forgiveness. 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:32.139 Now we 00:20:32.139 --> 00:20:33.179 come to 00:20:33.179 --> 00:20:33.659 scene 00:20:33.659 --> 00:20:34.419 two. 00:20:35.699 --> 00:20:36.199 Thomas 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:36.940 and Mr. 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:37.420 Bees 00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:38.539 down in 00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:38.700 the 00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.019 servants 00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:39.500 quarters. 00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:40.600 The 00:20:40.600 --> 00:20:40.819 camera 00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:41.400 leaves the 00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:41.700 king's 00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:42.000 audience 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.400 chamber 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:42.759 and it 00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.000 moves 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:43.539 downstairs. 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.160 The 00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:45.660 conversation 00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:46.059 of the 00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:46.440 second 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:46.900 scene 00:20:46.900 --> 00:20:47.759 follows a 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.100 similar 00:20:48.100 --> 00:20:48.720 pattern to 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.200 the first 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:49.660 scene but 00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:49.960 there are 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:50.720 some surprising 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.400 differences. 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.319 Verse 28 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:53.359 But when 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:53.839 the same 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:54.279 servant 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:54.819 went out 00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.079 who had 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:55.240 been 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:55.619 forgiven 00:20:55.619 --> 00:20:56.700 he found 00:20:56.700 --> 00:20:57.059 one of 00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:57.259 his 00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:57.740 fellow 00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:58.139 servants 00:20:58.139 --> 00:20:58.839 who owed 00:20:58.839 --> 00:20:59.359 him a 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:00.079 hundred 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:01.119 denarii 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:02.299 and seizing 00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:03.079 him he began 00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:03.779 to choke 00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.460 him saying 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.619 pay what 00:21:05.619 --> 00:21:06.200 you owe. 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:08.939 Now do you 00:21:08.939 --> 00:21:09.259 see the 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:09.700 difference? 00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:10.839 Ten thousand 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:11.399 talents 00:21:11.399 --> 00:21:12.859 one hundred 00:21:12.859 --> 00:21:14.200 denarii. 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:15.439 Now that was 00:21:15.439 --> 00:21:15.919 a hundred 00:21:15.919 --> 00:21:16.799 denarii was not 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:17.579 an insignificant 00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:18.200 amount of 00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:18.480 money. 00:21:19.179 --> 00:21:19.500 In those 00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:20.399 days it was 00:21:20.399 --> 00:21:20.700 a hundred 00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.399 days wages 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:22.120 it was three 00:21:22.120 --> 00:21:22.500 or four 00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:23.180 months work. 00:21:23.540 --> 00:21:24.140 This fellow 00:21:24.140 --> 00:21:24.860 servant owed 00:21:24.860 --> 00:21:25.280 the first 00:21:25.280 --> 00:21:26.160 servant a 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:26.519 hundred 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.400 days work. 00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:30.040 For us 00:21:30.040 --> 00:21:30.460 that would 00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:30.940 probably be 00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:31.640 equivalent of 00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:32.200 five to 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:32.960 ten thousand 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:33.519 pounds. 00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:34.360 That's not 00:21:34.360 --> 00:21:35.000 insignificant. 00:21:35.280 --> 00:21:35.580 If someone 00:21:35.580 --> 00:21:36.019 owes you 00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:36.580 five to 00:21:36.580 --> 00:21:37.100 ten thousand 00:21:37.100 --> 00:21:38.259 pounds you'd 00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:38.880 expect them to 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:39.440 pay it back 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:39.860 wouldn't you? 00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:41.980 But in 00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:42.900 comparison to 00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:43.380 the first 00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:45.080 debt how 00:21:45.080 --> 00:21:45.900 significant is 00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:46.120 it? 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:48.440 Completely 00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.640 insignificant. 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:50.500 It is one 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:52.559 six hundredth 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:54.339 of the first 00:21:54.339 --> 00:21:54.660 debt. 00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:55.279 Hundred 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:55.940 denarii 00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:56.799 ten thousand 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.240 talents. 00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:57.940 It's not even 00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:58.640 comparable. 00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.420 But what is 00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:00.940 also not 00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.759 comparable is 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.240 the first 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:02.819 servant's 00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:03.599 response to 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:04.339 his debtor. 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:05.220 The king 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:05.960 responded 00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:06.779 calmly 00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.619 reasonably 00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:08.680 that him 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.119 and his 00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:09.680 family should 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.240 be sold 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:11.339 but now that 00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:12.200 the shoe 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:12.640 is on the 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.099 other foot 00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:13.519 do you see 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.200 the response? 00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:15.660 Pay what 00:22:15.660 --> 00:22:16.319 you owe. 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:17.380 And he 00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:18.279 starts choking 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:18.680 him. 00:22:20.899 --> 00:22:21.579 What is 00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:22.379 interesting is 00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:22.700 that the 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.339 servant in 00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:24.460 debt offers 00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:25.319 virtually the 00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:26.579 exact same 00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:27.160 plea for 00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:28.039 patience and 00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:28.740 more time as 00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:29.099 the first 00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:29.420 servant. 00:22:29.879 --> 00:22:30.299 Did you see 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:30.500 that? 00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:30.920 In verse 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:31.680 26 the 00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:32.119 first servant 00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:32.920 says have 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.660 patience with 00:22:33.660 --> 00:22:34.720 me and I 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.279 will pay you 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:35.639 back. 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:37.319 Unlikely. 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:37.980 Six hundred 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:38.799 million days of 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:39.059 work. 00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:40.500 This guy says 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.460 have patience 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.259 with me and I 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:42.839 will pay you 00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:43.220 back. 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:44.980 Very reasonable. 00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:45.899 A hundred 00:22:45.899 --> 00:22:46.660 days work. 00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.440 let me work 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:47.920 for a hundred 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:49.060 days and I'll 00:22:49.060 --> 00:22:49.500 pay you 00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:49.840 back. 00:22:53.340 --> 00:22:54.160 But this 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:56.300 servant responds 00:22:56.300 --> 00:22:57.779 with ruthless 00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:59.480 unforgiveness. 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:00.960 The king 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:02.340 forgave a debt 00:23:02.340 --> 00:23:02.820 that was 00:23:02.820 --> 00:23:03.660 unmanageable 00:23:03.660 --> 00:23:04.600 unimaginable 00:23:04.600 --> 00:23:05.480 and this 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:06.100 servant will 00:23:06.100 --> 00:23:06.840 not forgive 00:23:06.840 --> 00:23:07.540 a debt 00:23:07.540 --> 00:23:08.740 that is 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.240 minor. 00:23:10.620 --> 00:23:10.880 And we 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:11.519 are supposed 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.200 to feel 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:13.259 indignant 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:15.940 indignant 00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:17.059 at this 00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:17.839 injustice. 00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:19.099 Well the 00:23:19.099 --> 00:23:19.740 rumours of 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.000 what has 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:20.500 happened in 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.220 the corridors 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:21.619 of the 00:23:21.619 --> 00:23:21.940 servants' 00:23:22.099 --> 00:23:23.039 quarters then 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:23.900 filters back 00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:24.920 up into the 00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:25.940 king's audience 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:26.640 chamber which 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.460 brings us to 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.339 scene 3 00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:30.879 verse 31 00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:32.440 to 33. 00:23:33.099 --> 00:23:33.559 When his 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.339 fellow servant 00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:35.019 saw what had 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.799 taken place 00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:36.940 sorry the first 00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:37.900 servant had him 00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:38.480 thrown into 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:39.400 prison until he 00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:39.879 could pay it 00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:40.140 back. 00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:41.160 And then scene 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:42.200 3 when his 00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:42.900 fellow servant 00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:43.560 saw what had 00:23:43.560 --> 00:23:44.180 taken place 00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:44.540 they were 00:23:44.540 --> 00:23:45.560 greatly distressed 00:23:45.560 --> 00:23:46.080 and they went 00:23:46.080 --> 00:23:46.820 and reported it 00:23:46.820 --> 00:23:47.120 to their 00:23:47.120 --> 00:23:48.380 master all 00:23:48.380 --> 00:23:48.720 that had 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.380 taken place. 00:23:49.540 --> 00:23:49.900 Then his 00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:50.860 master summoned 00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:51.860 him the first 00:23:51.860 --> 00:23:52.380 servant and 00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:52.860 said to him 00:23:52.860 --> 00:23:54.100 you wicked 00:23:54.100 --> 00:23:54.820 servant I 00:23:54.820 --> 00:23:55.600 forgave you 00:23:55.600 --> 00:23:56.300 all that 00:23:56.300 --> 00:23:57.380 debt of 00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:58.900 10,000 00:23:58.900 --> 00:23:59.740 talents 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:01.180 because you 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:01.860 pleaded with 00:24:01.860 --> 00:24:02.860 me and should 00:24:02.860 --> 00:24:03.500 you not have 00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:04.740 had mercy on 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.340 your fellow 00:24:05.340 --> 00:24:06.160 servant who 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:06.660 owed you 00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:07.640 a hundred 00:24:07.640 --> 00:24:09.000 denarii 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:10.620 as I 00:24:10.620 --> 00:24:11.120 had had 00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:12.240 mercy on 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:12.519 you. 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:15.059 So the 00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:15.400 point of 00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:15.920 the parable 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.539 is simple 00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:17.140 our 00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:17.599 forgiveness 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:18.180 of others 00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:18.660 must be 00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:19.079 unlimited 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:20.819 because God's 00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:21.180 forgiveness 00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:21.920 of us 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:24.519 is unequaled. 00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:25.880 Our 00:24:25.880 --> 00:24:26.259 forgiveness 00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:26.819 of others 00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:27.240 must be 00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:27.599 unlimited 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:28.880 because God's 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:29.200 forgiveness 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:29.940 of us 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:32.440 is unequaled. 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.019 And this 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:34.519 is why 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:34.980 Gordon 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.700 Wilson was 00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:36.220 able to 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:37.259 express love 00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:37.980 and forgiveness 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.120 forgiveness 00:24:38.120 --> 00:24:39.180 to his 00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:39.660 daughter's 00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:39.980 killers 00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:41.140 only hours 00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:42.779 after losing 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.339 her so 00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:43.960 tragically 00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:46.000 because he 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.380 was a 00:24:46.380 --> 00:24:46.839 Christian. 00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:50.400 He was a 00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.240 Christian who 00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:51.779 understood 00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:53.380 that what he 00:24:53.380 --> 00:24:53.940 owed to 00:24:53.940 --> 00:24:55.360 God was a 00:24:55.360 --> 00:24:56.960 zillion times 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:58.759 more than 00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.880 what these 00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:01.120 murderers 00:25:01.120 --> 00:25:02.440 owed to 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:02.740 him. 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:05.339 no one 00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:05.940 could ever 00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:06.859 grieve him 00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:07.620 or offend 00:25:07.620 --> 00:25:08.279 him more 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.400 than he 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.240 had grieved 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:11.599 or offended 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:12.180 God. 00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:15.019 And I 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.319 think the 00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:15.940 reason why 00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:16.559 as Christians 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.740 and as 00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.380 human beings 00:25:18.380 --> 00:25:18.960 in general 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:19.980 why we 00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:20.859 struggle to 00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:22.539 forgive is 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.019 because we 00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:23.660 have lost 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:25.059 the proportionality 00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:25.440 of our 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:26.160 offense to 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:27.380 God and 00:25:27.380 --> 00:25:27.599 the 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:28.819 disproportionality 00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.539 of his 00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:30.380 response to 00:25:30.380 --> 00:25:30.620 us. 00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:31.039 We have 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:32.139 lost the 00:25:32.139 --> 00:25:33.239 proportionality 00:25:33.239 --> 00:25:33.939 of our 00:25:33.939 --> 00:25:34.799 offense to 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:36.439 God and 00:25:36.439 --> 00:25:36.719 the 00:25:36.719 --> 00:25:38.139 disproportionality 00:25:38.139 --> 00:25:39.500 of his 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.399 response to 00:25:40.399 --> 00:25:40.739 us. 00:25:41.459 --> 00:25:41.759 Our 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.399 offense to 00:25:42.399 --> 00:25:42.979 God is 00:25:42.979 --> 00:25:43.500 directly 00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.599 proportional to 00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:45.439 his dignity, 00:25:45.739 --> 00:25:46.059 to his 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:46.599 being. 00:25:48.179 --> 00:25:48.599 It's not 00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:49.219 the length 00:25:49.219 --> 00:25:49.959 of our sin 00:25:49.959 --> 00:25:50.799 that determines 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.599 the debt we 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:52.039 owe God. 00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:52.659 It is the 00:25:52.659 --> 00:25:53.799 height of 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.179 our sin. 00:25:54.239 --> 00:25:54.699 It is the 00:25:54.699 --> 00:25:56.259 gravity of 00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:56.699 what we 00:25:56.699 --> 00:25:57.239 have done. 00:25:57.240 --> 00:26:00.980 Let's 00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:02.140 say a 00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:02.819 young boy 00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:04.079 is playing 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:04.440 with his 00:26:04.440 --> 00:26:05.140 sister in 00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:05.759 the living 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:06.160 room and 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:06.440 there is a 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:06.759 bit of an 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.440 argument and 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.859 she steals a 00:26:08.859 --> 00:26:09.539 toy from him 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:09.960 and he 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:10.839 slaps her in 00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:11.299 the face. 00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:14.500 Do you 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.259 think the 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:15.900 boy should 00:26:15.900 --> 00:26:16.559 be punished? 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:18.700 Well, 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:18.960 yeah. 00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:19.920 He's just 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:20.299 slapped. 00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:21.819 Let's say 00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:22.019 it's a 00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:22.240 brother, 00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:22.559 sorry. 00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:23.059 He slaps 00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:23.500 his brother 00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:24.160 in the face. 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.180 Let's say 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:25.660 the next day 00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:25.960 he's playing 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.299 with his 00:26:26.299 --> 00:26:26.880 sister and 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:27.200 the same 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:27.799 thing happens 00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:28.500 and he 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.039 slaps his 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.460 sister in 00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:29.880 the face. 00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:30.940 Should he 00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:31.559 receive the 00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:32.480 same punishment 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.840 for slapping 00:26:33.840 --> 00:26:34.759 his sister 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:35.319 in the face 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.019 as he did 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:36.940 for slapping 00:26:36.940 --> 00:26:37.420 his brother 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:38.059 in the face? 00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:41.400 I would 00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:42.100 say no. 00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:44.000 It should 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.420 be a more 00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.180 severe punishment. 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:46.420 What if 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:47.120 the mother 00:26:47.120 --> 00:26:47.660 comes into 00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:48.100 the room 00:26:48.100 --> 00:26:48.740 and there's 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:49.000 an even 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.720 bigger fight 00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.019 and he 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.500 turns around 00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:50.779 and he 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.319 slaps his 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:51.680 mother in 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:52.140 the face? 00:26:54.100 --> 00:26:54.900 Should the 00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:55.600 punishment he 00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:56.719 receives for 00:26:56.719 --> 00:26:57.299 slapping his 00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:57.719 mother in 00:26:57.719 --> 00:26:58.199 the face 00:26:58.199 --> 00:26:59.319 be more 00:26:59.319 --> 00:26:59.980 than what he 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:00.579 received for 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:01.539 slapping his 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:02.019 sister in 00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:02.439 the face or 00:27:02.439 --> 00:27:02.919 for slapping 00:27:02.919 --> 00:27:03.379 his brother 00:27:03.379 --> 00:27:04.019 in the face? 00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:07.039 Let's say 00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:07.839 he passes 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.779 his Duke of 00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.059 Edinburgh 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:10.719 award and 00:27:10.719 --> 00:27:11.179 for some 00:27:11.179 --> 00:27:11.639 reason the 00:27:11.639 --> 00:27:11.899 Duke of 00:27:11.899 --> 00:27:12.139 Edinburgh 00:27:12.139 --> 00:27:12.679 doesn't turn 00:27:12.679 --> 00:27:13.119 up and the 00:27:13.119 --> 00:27:13.859 Queen turns 00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:15.839 up to give 00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:16.139 him the 00:27:16.139 --> 00:27:16.480 award. 00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:18.059 And for 00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:18.679 some reason 00:27:18.679 --> 00:27:19.619 as she goes 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:20.079 to shake 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:20.919 his hand he 00:27:20.919 --> 00:27:21.839 decides to 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.619 slap the 00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:23.219 Queen in the 00:27:23.219 --> 00:27:23.599 face. 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:26.839 Now do 00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:27.359 you think he 00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:27.699 should get 00:27:27.699 --> 00:27:28.219 the same 00:27:28.219 --> 00:27:29.599 discipline for 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:30.240 slapping the 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:30.839 Queen in the 00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:32.259 face as he 00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:32.619 did for 00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:33.480 slapping his 00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:34.019 younger brother 00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.719 in the face? 00:27:35.659 --> 00:27:36.059 Well of 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:36.659 course not. 00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:39.119 The punishment 00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:40.839 is calculated 00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:41.899 on the 00:27:41.899 --> 00:27:43.059 dignity of 00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:43.759 the person 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.839 that you 00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:45.500 have offended. 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.439 The height 00:27:48.439 --> 00:27:49.159 of our sin 00:27:49.159 --> 00:27:52.019 is determined 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.559 by the 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:53.240 dignity of 00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:53.680 the person 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.039 we have 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.779 offended and 00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.759 God does 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.359 not differ 00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:56.920 from the 00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:58.240 Queen in 00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:59.879 degree but 00:27:59.879 --> 00:28:00.619 in kind. 00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:03.359 He does 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:03.839 not differ 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:04.319 from the 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:04.759 Queen in 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.019 degree. 00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:05.480 He's not 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:06.039 just one 00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.639 notch up 00:28:06.639 --> 00:28:07.039 from the 00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:07.299 Queen. 00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:09.480 He is in 00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:10.059 a different 00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:11.000 category 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:12.460 altogether. 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.559 And if 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.339 that is who 00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:15.799 we have 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:16.279 offended, 00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:17.339 the most 00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:18.359 beautiful and 00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:19.059 lovely and 00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:19.839 excellent and 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.559 glorious and 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:21.319 majestic and 00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:21.939 winsome and 00:28:21.939 --> 00:28:23.099 delightful being 00:28:23.099 --> 00:28:23.480 in the 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:23.980 universe, 00:28:25.139 --> 00:28:25.879 if that is 00:28:25.879 --> 00:28:26.339 who we 00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:27.079 have offended 00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:29.379 then we 00:28:29.379 --> 00:28:30.259 owe him 00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:31.359 infinitely. 00:28:33.379 --> 00:28:34.639 We deserve 00:28:34.639 --> 00:28:35.839 infinite punishment 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:37.299 if we have 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:37.919 not honoured 00:28:37.919 --> 00:28:39.039 such a being. 00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:40.879 That is what 00:28:40.879 --> 00:28:41.639 creates the 00:28:41.639 --> 00:28:42.359 incalculable 00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:42.639 debt. 00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.579 We slap 00:28:43.579 --> 00:28:44.519 in the face 00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:46.240 the creator 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:46.599 of the 00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:47.119 universe. 00:28:48.399 --> 00:28:48.700 And we 00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:49.059 don't just 00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:49.700 slap in the 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.620 face as 00:28:50.620 --> 00:28:50.840 our 00:28:50.840 --> 00:28:51.500 maker. 00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.059 Actually 00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.420 when he 00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:53.039 came among 00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:53.500 us, 00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:54.400 what did 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:54.720 we do 00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.140 to him? 00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:56.380 We slapped 00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:56.680 him in 00:28:56.680 --> 00:28:57.080 the face 00:28:57.080 --> 00:28:57.600 physically. 00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:59.380 We stuck 00:28:59.380 --> 00:28:59.819 him on a 00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:00.360 cross. 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:03.920 The most 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:04.539 meek and 00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.160 humble of 00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:05.840 all men 00:29:05.840 --> 00:29:06.440 who ever 00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:07.000 walked the 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:07.380 face of 00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:07.779 the earth. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:09.720 And if you 00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.120 and me had 00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:10.600 been there, 00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:11.900 we would 00:29:11.900 --> 00:29:12.500 have slapped 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.200 him in 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:13.779 the face. 00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:16.039 ashamed, 00:29:16.359 --> 00:29:16.859 I hear 00:29:16.859 --> 00:29:18.019 my mocking 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:19.700 voice call 00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:20.139 out among 00:29:20.139 --> 00:29:20.899 the scoffers. 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.700 It was my 00:29:21.700 --> 00:29:23.180 sin that 00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:23.720 held him 00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:25.240 there until 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:25.639 it was 00:29:25.639 --> 00:29:26.259 accomplished. 00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:28.220 Our 00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:28.879 offence to 00:29:28.879 --> 00:29:29.899 God is 00:29:29.899 --> 00:29:30.559 directly 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:31.639 proportional to 00:29:31.639 --> 00:29:32.379 his being 00:29:32.379 --> 00:29:33.119 and dignity. 00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:34.899 And what 00:29:34.899 --> 00:29:35.460 was God's 00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:39.279 response to 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:40.039 our sin, 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.399 to slapping 00:29:41.399 --> 00:29:41.899 him in the 00:29:41.899 --> 00:29:42.559 face as our 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:42.940 creator? 00:29:43.659 --> 00:29:44.539 He sent 00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:45.519 his one 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:46.359 and only 00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:47.679 son to 00:29:47.679 --> 00:29:48.099 be the 00:29:48.099 --> 00:29:48.700 savior of 00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:49.119 the world. 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.859 What was 00:29:51.859 --> 00:29:52.279 Jesus' 00:29:52.579 --> 00:29:53.899 response when 00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:54.639 we slapped 00:29:54.639 --> 00:29:55.139 him in the 00:29:55.139 --> 00:29:55.519 face? 00:29:55.859 --> 00:29:56.440 Father, 00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:58.519 forgive them 00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.899 for they do 00:29:59.899 --> 00:30:00.419 not know 00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:01.200 what they 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:01.480 do. 00:30:01.879 --> 00:30:02.159 And what 00:30:02.159 --> 00:30:02.819 was God's 00:30:02.819 --> 00:30:03.460 response? 00:30:04.859 --> 00:30:05.240 Did he 00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:06.379 punish us 00:30:06.379 --> 00:30:07.379 instead of 00:30:07.379 --> 00:30:08.819 Christ when 00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:09.359 we slapped 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:09.779 him in the 00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.159 face? 00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.480 How great 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:12.980 the pain 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:13.559 of searing 00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:14.000 loss. 00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:14.299 The 00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:14.720 father 00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:16.160 turns his 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:16.819 face away 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.559 as wounds 00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:18.360 which mar 00:30:18.360 --> 00:30:19.180 the chosen 00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:20.779 one bring 00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:21.860 many sons 00:30:21.860 --> 00:30:23.059 to glory. 00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:24.200 God the 00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:25.120 father punished 00:30:25.120 --> 00:30:25.680 his own 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:26.700 incarnate son 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:28.120 to save us 00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:28.880 from himself 00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:29.660 and he did 00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:30.400 so in the 00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:31.240 very moment 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:32.660 of the most 00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:34.180 violent expression 00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:34.940 of our 00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:35.860 hatred of 00:30:35.860 --> 00:30:36.500 his son. 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:39.220 In the 00:30:39.220 --> 00:30:40.400 most violent 00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:41.360 expression of 00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:41.839 our hatred 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:42.419 of his son 00:30:42.419 --> 00:30:42.979 God the 00:30:42.979 --> 00:30:43.659 father did 00:30:43.659 --> 00:30:44.139 not come 00:30:44.139 --> 00:30:44.599 down and 00:30:44.599 --> 00:30:45.299 rescue his 00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:47.179 son but 00:30:47.179 --> 00:30:47.759 he let it 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:48.579 play out 00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:51.719 so that he 00:30:51.719 --> 00:30:52.299 might forgive 00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:52.839 us. 00:30:53.879 --> 00:30:54.339 Well might 00:30:54.339 --> 00:30:55.159 the sun in 00:30:55.159 --> 00:30:56.019 darkness hide 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.599 and shut 00:30:56.599 --> 00:30:57.379 his glories 00:30:57.379 --> 00:30:58.539 in when 00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:59.299 Christ the 00:30:59.299 --> 00:30:59.959 mighty maker 00:30:59.959 --> 00:31:01.379 died for 00:31:01.379 --> 00:31:01.959 man the 00:31:01.959 --> 00:31:02.579 creature's 00:31:02.579 --> 00:31:02.839 sin. 00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:04.500 Thus might 00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:05.359 I hide my 00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:05.779 blushing 00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:07.119 face while 00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:07.819 his dear 00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:08.979 cross appears, 00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:10.319 dissolve my 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:10.960 heart in 00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:11.759 thankfulness 00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:12.859 and melt 00:31:12.859 --> 00:31:13.799 my eyes 00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.799 to tears. 00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:16.899 But drops 00:31:16.899 --> 00:31:17.500 of grief 00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.099 can ne'er 00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:18.779 repay the 00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:19.579 debt of 00:31:19.579 --> 00:31:20.339 love I 00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:20.659 owe. 00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:21.599 Here 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:22.139 Lord I 00:31:22.139 --> 00:31:22.879 give myself 00:31:22.879 --> 00:31:23.319 away, 00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:24.619 tis all 00:31:24.619 --> 00:31:25.480 that I 00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:26.319 can do. 00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:27.679 The debt 00:31:27.679 --> 00:31:28.980 of love 00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:30.059 I owe. 00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:31.759 This is 00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:32.480 the well 00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:33.679 from which 00:31:33.679 --> 00:31:34.539 Gordon Wilson 00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:35.399 drank in the 00:31:35.399 --> 00:31:36.200 bitter moments 00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:36.759 of losing 00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:37.500 his daughter. 00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:39.420 Our 00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.119 offense to 00:31:40.119 --> 00:31:40.720 God is 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:41.240 directly 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:42.220 proportional to 00:31:42.220 --> 00:31:42.920 his dignity 00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:44.220 and his 00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:45.140 response to 00:31:45.140 --> 00:31:46.400 us is 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:47.319 completely 00:31:47.319 --> 00:31:48.980 disproportional 00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:50.539 to what we 00:31:50.539 --> 00:31:51.039 did to 00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:51.319 him. 00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:53.279 We slapped 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:53.700 him in the 00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:54.339 face as our 00:31:54.339 --> 00:31:55.220 creator, we 00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:56.000 slapped him in 00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:56.579 the face as 00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:57.240 our saviour, 00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:58.379 we spat at 00:31:58.379 --> 00:31:58.980 him, we 00:31:58.980 --> 00:32:00.200 crucified him 00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:01.140 and he 00:32:01.140 --> 00:32:03.099 said I 00:32:03.099 --> 00:32:03.759 forgive you. 00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:06.099 I forgive 00:32:06.099 --> 00:32:06.400 you. 00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:10.539 And that 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.339 is Jesus' 00:32:11.599 --> 00:32:11.920 point. 00:32:12.119 --> 00:32:12.379 Our 00:32:12.379 --> 00:32:13.140 forgiveness of 00:32:13.140 --> 00:32:14.200 others must 00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:15.119 be unlimited. 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:15.599 Why? 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.920 Because God's 00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:18.700 forgiveness of 00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:19.980 us is 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:21.240 unequal. 00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:25.500 But Jesus 00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:25.940 does not 00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:26.279 leave it 00:32:26.279 --> 00:32:26.480 there. 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:27.299 He has a 00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:28.059 final point 00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:28.599 to make in 00:32:28.599 --> 00:32:29.619 verses 34 00:32:29.619 --> 00:32:30.680 to 35. 00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:33.259 Unforgiveness 00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:33.980 of others 00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:36.000 is unforgivable. 00:32:36.839 --> 00:32:37.480 Unforgiveness 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:38.140 of others 00:32:38.140 --> 00:32:39.180 is unforgivable. 00:32:40.879 --> 00:32:41.920 He ends 00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:42.480 the parable 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:42.839 with a 00:32:42.839 --> 00:32:43.720 warning and 00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:44.240 in anger 00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:44.980 his master 00:32:44.980 --> 00:32:45.779 delivered him 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:46.140 to the 00:32:46.140 --> 00:32:46.879 jailers, the 00:32:46.879 --> 00:32:47.500 first servant, 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:49.079 until he 00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:49.720 should pay 00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:50.279 all his 00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:50.619 debt. 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:51.559 And so 00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:52.319 also my 00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:52.680 heavenly 00:32:52.680 --> 00:32:53.359 father will 00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:53.779 do to 00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:54.319 every one 00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:54.819 of you if 00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:55.319 you do 00:32:55.319 --> 00:32:56.119 not forgive 00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:56.640 your brother 00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:57.180 from your 00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:57.539 heart. 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:01.660 Jesus is 00:33:01.660 --> 00:33:01.960 saying, 00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:02.339 Peter, 00:33:02.339 --> 00:33:03.059 forgiveness 00:33:03.059 --> 00:33:03.419 is not 00:33:03.419 --> 00:33:04.139 optional for 00:33:04.139 --> 00:33:04.419 you. 00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:05.639 Forgiveness 00:33:05.639 --> 00:33:06.259 is not an 00:33:06.259 --> 00:33:06.980 added extra 00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:07.279 of the 00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:07.919 Christian life. 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:08.199 It's not 00:33:08.199 --> 00:33:08.480 like when 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:08.819 you go to 00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:09.179 buy a 00:33:09.179 --> 00:33:09.579 car, 00:33:10.359 --> 00:33:10.740 they say 00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:11.639 would you 00:33:11.639 --> 00:33:12.259 like tinted 00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:13.299 windows or 00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:13.619 not? 00:33:14.059 --> 00:33:14.359 Do you want 00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:14.980 air conditioning 00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:15.579 or not? 00:33:16.099 --> 00:33:16.319 Do you want 00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:16.759 a stereo 00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:17.459 system or 00:33:17.459 --> 00:33:17.759 not? 00:33:18.699 --> 00:33:19.159 It's not 00:33:19.159 --> 00:33:19.500 like when 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:19.819 you become 00:33:19.819 --> 00:33:20.259 a Christian 00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:20.759 God says, 00:33:20.919 --> 00:33:21.480 do you want 00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:22.039 to add on 00:33:22.039 --> 00:33:22.699 that you need 00:33:22.699 --> 00:33:23.000 to forgive 00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:23.419 people or 00:33:23.419 --> 00:33:23.639 should we 00:33:23.639 --> 00:33:23.939 just leave 00:33:23.939 --> 00:33:24.379 that off? 00:33:24.380 --> 00:33:28.000 Jesus comes 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:28.560 to us and 00:33:28.560 --> 00:33:28.920 says, 00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:30.080 you cannot 00:33:30.080 --> 00:33:31.040 expect 00:33:31.040 --> 00:33:31.980 unequaled 00:33:31.980 --> 00:33:32.460 forgiveness 00:33:32.460 --> 00:33:33.140 from God 00:33:33.140 --> 00:33:34.040 and then 00:33:34.040 --> 00:33:34.840 limit 00:33:34.840 --> 00:33:36.380 your forgiveness 00:33:36.380 --> 00:33:37.560 to others. 00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:38.540 You can't 00:33:38.540 --> 00:33:39.480 expect God 00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.180 to stop 00:33:40.180 --> 00:33:41.100 counting your 00:33:41.100 --> 00:33:42.820 sins and 00:33:42.820 --> 00:33:43.400 then you 00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:44.400 keep counting 00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:45.220 your 00:33:45.220 --> 00:33:45.880 offenders 00:33:45.880 --> 00:33:47.000 sins. 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:51.279 Now this 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:51.900 is not a 00:33:51.900 --> 00:33:52.720 threat. 00:33:53.099 --> 00:33:53.420 If you 00:33:53.420 --> 00:33:53.720 don't 00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:54.119 forgive 00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:54.579 then God 00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:55.099 will take 00:33:55.099 --> 00:33:55.599 away your 00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:56.140 salvation 00:33:56.140 --> 00:33:56.940 as if your 00:33:56.940 --> 00:33:57.579 salvation is 00:33:57.579 --> 00:33:58.319 earned on 00:33:58.319 --> 00:33:58.740 the basis 00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:59.180 of you 00:33:59.180 --> 00:33:59.539 forgiving 00:33:59.539 --> 00:34:00.000 others. 00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:00.880 This is 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:01.980 not purgatory. 00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:02.660 You're 00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:03.299 saved and 00:34:03.299 --> 00:34:03.519 if you 00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:03.740 don't 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.059 forgive 00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:04.359 then you 00:34:04.359 --> 00:34:04.660 go to 00:34:04.660 --> 00:34:05.079 hell and 00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:05.400 you pay 00:34:05.400 --> 00:34:05.740 for it 00:34:05.740 --> 00:34:06.000 for a 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:06.220 bit. 00:34:06.619 --> 00:34:06.900 You pay 00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:07.259 for your 00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:07.839 unforgiveness 00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:08.179 and then 00:34:08.179 --> 00:34:08.420 you get 00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:08.920 released 00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:10.099 after that. 00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:10.920 Now Jesus 00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:11.739 is not 00:34:11.739 --> 00:34:12.239 saying that 00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:12.820 your forgiveness 00:34:12.820 --> 00:34:13.360 of others 00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:14.599 guarantees or 00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:15.340 maintains 00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:16.260 your 00:34:16.260 --> 00:34:16.719 forgiven 00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:17.779 state before 00:34:17.779 --> 00:34:18.179 God. 00:34:18.879 --> 00:34:19.480 Jesus is 00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:19.919 making a 00:34:19.919 --> 00:34:20.439 very simple 00:34:20.439 --> 00:34:20.939 point and 00:34:20.939 --> 00:34:21.579 it's this. 00:34:22.819 --> 00:34:23.279 Forgiven 00:34:23.279 --> 00:34:23.799 people 00:34:23.799 --> 00:34:25.259 forgive. 00:34:26.799 --> 00:34:27.639 Unforgiven 00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:28.079 people 00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:29.500 don't 00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:30.679 forgive. 00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:32.019 Forgiven 00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:32.439 people 00:34:32.439 --> 00:34:32.939 forgive. 00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:33.739 Unforgiven 00:34:33.739 --> 00:34:34.480 people don't 00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:34.759 forgive. 00:34:34.959 --> 00:34:35.659 If you 00:34:35.659 --> 00:34:36.599 forgive others 00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:38.219 it simply 00:34:38.219 --> 00:34:39.239 demonstrates 00:34:39.239 --> 00:34:40.519 that you 00:34:40.519 --> 00:34:41.119 have understood 00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:41.779 God's 00:34:41.779 --> 00:34:42.219 forgiveness 00:34:42.219 --> 00:34:43.799 of you. 00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:45.799 To not 00:34:45.799 --> 00:34:46.579 forgive others 00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:48.039 is to 00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:48.900 receive God's 00:34:48.900 --> 00:34:49.400 punishment. 00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:51.480 Can I 00:34:51.480 --> 00:34:51.940 put it 00:34:51.940 --> 00:34:53.980 as starkly 00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:54.460 as Jesus 00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:55.619 does here 00:34:55.619 --> 00:34:56.639 hell is 00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:57.360 for those 00:34:57.360 --> 00:34:57.860 who will 00:34:57.860 --> 00:34:58.219 not 00:34:58.219 --> 00:34:58.980 forgive. 00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:01.739 C.S. 00:35:01.799 --> 00:35:02.099 Lewis 00:35:02.099 --> 00:35:02.679 put it 00:35:02.679 --> 00:35:03.159 starkly 00:35:03.159 --> 00:35:03.619 we must 00:35:03.619 --> 00:35:04.099 forgive 00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:04.679 all our 00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:05.259 enemies 00:35:05.259 --> 00:35:06.420 or be 00:35:06.420 --> 00:35:06.860 damned. 00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:10.059 To not 00:35:10.059 --> 00:35:10.559 forgive from 00:35:10.559 --> 00:35:10.980 the heart 00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:11.639 is to show 00:35:11.639 --> 00:35:12.000 that we've 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:12.480 never really 00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:13.179 grasped 00:35:13.179 --> 00:35:13.659 forgiveness. 00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:13.859 forgiveness. 00:35:16.059 --> 00:35:16.519 And that's 00:35:16.519 --> 00:35:16.940 the point 00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:17.359 about the 00:35:17.359 --> 00:35:17.940 first servant. 00:35:18.179 --> 00:35:18.639 He had 00:35:18.639 --> 00:35:19.179 not ever 00:35:19.179 --> 00:35:20.239 really grasped 00:35:20.239 --> 00:35:20.960 what the 00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:21.599 king had 00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:21.940 let him 00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:22.399 off with. 00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:23.779 And that 00:35:23.779 --> 00:35:24.319 is why 00:35:24.319 --> 00:35:25.500 he wouldn't 00:35:25.500 --> 00:35:25.920 offer 00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:26.399 forgiveness 00:35:26.399 --> 00:35:27.420 to a 00:35:27.420 --> 00:35:27.659 fellow 00:35:27.659 --> 00:35:28.099 servant. 00:35:28.099 --> 00:35:32.860 the reason 00:35:32.860 --> 00:35:33.199 Gordon 00:35:33.199 --> 00:35:33.880 Wilson could 00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:34.559 stand before 00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:35.119 the world's 00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:35.679 media that 00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:36.319 day only 00:35:36.319 --> 00:35:37.099 hours after 00:35:37.099 --> 00:35:37.739 losing his 00:35:37.739 --> 00:35:38.339 daughter and 00:35:38.339 --> 00:35:39.259 speak words 00:35:39.259 --> 00:35:39.920 of love and 00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:40.360 forgiveness 00:35:40.360 --> 00:35:41.759 was because 00:35:41.759 --> 00:35:42.259 he had 00:35:42.259 --> 00:35:43.259 grasped the 00:35:43.259 --> 00:35:43.699 gospel. 00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:45.719 Or rather 00:35:45.719 --> 00:35:47.839 it had 00:35:47.839 --> 00:35:48.559 grasped 00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:49.019 him. 00:35:50.139 --> 00:35:51.159 But God 00:35:51.159 --> 00:35:52.500 demonstrates his 00:35:52.500 --> 00:35:53.219 love for us 00:35:53.219 --> 00:35:53.759 in this. 00:35:54.679 --> 00:35:55.939 While we 00:35:55.939 --> 00:35:57.239 were still 00:35:57.239 --> 00:35:58.299 sinners. 00:35:59.339 --> 00:36:00.339 Not while we 00:36:00.339 --> 00:36:01.059 had repented. 00:36:01.259 --> 00:36:02.199 Not after we 00:36:02.199 --> 00:36:02.639 had repented. 00:36:02.919 --> 00:36:03.839 While we 00:36:03.839 --> 00:36:04.819 were still 00:36:04.819 --> 00:36:05.519 sinners. 00:36:06.339 --> 00:36:06.980 Christ 00:36:06.980 --> 00:36:08.239 died for 00:36:08.239 --> 00:36:08.679 us. 00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:14.059 You see 00:36:14.059 --> 00:36:14.639 on your 00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:15.399 service sheet 00:36:15.399 --> 00:36:16.199 we have 00:36:16.199 --> 00:36:17.179 the Lord's 00:36:17.179 --> 00:36:17.519 Prayer. 00:36:17.719 --> 00:36:17.919 And it's 00:36:17.919 --> 00:36:18.579 appropriate I 00:36:18.579 --> 00:36:19.639 think to 00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:20.239 pray this 00:36:20.239 --> 00:36:21.299 together now 00:36:21.299 --> 00:36:22.619 keeping in 00:36:22.619 --> 00:36:23.019 mind in 00:36:23.019 --> 00:36:23.819 particular the 00:36:23.819 --> 00:36:25.420 fourth line 00:36:25.420 --> 00:36:27.059 forgive us 00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:28.380 our sins as 00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:29.000 we forgive 00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:30.239 those who 00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:30.819 sin against 00:36:30.819 --> 00:36:31.259 us. 00:36:31.460 --> 00:36:31.940 We'll have a 00:36:31.940 --> 00:36:32.839 moment of 00:36:32.839 --> 00:36:34.099 quiet reflection 00:36:34.099 --> 00:36:35.519 and then we'll 00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:36.019 say this 00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:37.119 prayer together.