THE LORD’S RULE OF FORGIVENESS.
By James White
Matt. 18:21, 22: “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.” The doctrine of Christ touching forgiveness is made exceedingly clear in the New Testament, both by plain declarations from his lips, and also by illustration. In the model prayer of Jesus, called the Lord’s prayer, he states the measure of Christian forgiveness in these words: “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Matt. 6:12. And at the very close of this prayer he adds: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Verses 14, 15. The Lord’s rule of forgiveness is liberal and just. Do sinful men desire forgiveness of their Lord? And do they long to share his pardoning love? Then let them as earnestly cherish feelings of forgiveness toward those who repent of injuries done to them. But the standard of forbearance and forgiveness with many is as far below the rule of Christ as was Peter’s. After listening to impressive words from his Lord, calculated to inspire in his ardent heart feelings of liberality and love to his brethren, he inquires if he should forgive his brother who should sin against him until seven times. Peter doubtless regarded seven times a great tax upon his patience, forgiveness, and love. But the Lord’s rule is reached only by multiplying poor Peter’s stingy sum by the number seventy. Seventy times seven would be the liberal sum of four hundred and ninety. And if we fall as far below the Lord’s standard as did Peter, and if Christ’s pardoning love to us is proportionate to our want of forbearance and love to the brotherhood, then we are minus the abounding grace and love of Christ in our hearts just sixty-nine seventieths of what we might share and enjoy, if we would cherish the same spirit of forbearance, forgiveness, and love toward our brethren, that we wish the Lord to manifest toward us. But the climax of instruction and illustration of the subject of forgiveness is yet to come, as set forth in the parable of the Matt. 18:23–35: “Therefore is the kingdom of Heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.” “But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, which owed him an hundred pence; and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not; but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me. Shouldst not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my Heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” Before commenting upon this parable, we wish to state that Christ uses parables for the more clear and forcible elucidation of divine truth. He takes the facts within our knowledge which will best illustrate his subjects. And while it may be conceded that all parts of a parable do not apply to the subject with equal adaptation and force, it is urged that the parables of Christ were selected in wisdom infinite, and that they properly represent the leading features of his subjects. It will not do to charge Christ with dealing in overdrawn illustrations. None of his figures are stronger than the facts illustrated by them. This leads us to notice the several points in the parable:— 1. The king who forgave his servant ten thousand talents, represents our merciful Lord and his pardoning grace. The value of ten thousand talents is between nine and ten millions of dollars! A brilliant transaction this, between our adorable Redeemer and the poor, lost sinner, properly illustrated by millions of gold coin! It is not, however, an exchange of gold for “greenbacks,” or for fluctuating stocks, as occurs on Wall street, New York, or California street, San Francisco; but it is a transaction in which the sinner exchanges his guilt for the pardoning love of Christ. 2. The merciless conduct of the servant who had been forgiven the great debt of ten thousand talents, toward his fellow-servant who was indebted to him the small sum of an hundred pence, properly represents the great sin of unforgiveness among brethren. The value of one hundred pence is not far from fifteen dollars. 3. In the parable, he who had just been forgiven the immense debt of more than $9,000,-000, as he fell down before his lord, and pleaded, “Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all,” would not forgive his fellow-servant the sum of about $15, when he fell down before him, and repeated the same words, “Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all,” which had just moved the compassion of his lord toward him. 4. To apply the figure, it will be seen that under the same circumstances which call forth the pardoning love of Christ, represented by more than nine million, the happy recipient of matchless mercy refuses to forgive in a brother that which is represented by fifteen. This is indeed a fearful contrast between the subjects of grace and their gracious Redeemer, who says to his people, “Love one another as I have loved you.” And yet men and women who have tasted the sweets of forgiveness will become chilled with the spirit of selfishness, and their hearts steeled by the power of Satan to that degree that they cannot do for a poor erring, repenting brother in the way of forgiveness a six-hundred-thousandth part as much as their Lord has done for them. And, according to the rule given in the Lord’s prayer, that sinful men may expect to be forgiven only as they forgive their fellows, they are minus, to say the least, five hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine, six hundred thousandths of the abounding grace of God, which it is their privilege to enjoy. This is a terrible loss, immensely greater than any Christian can afford. And yet many sustain it for want of a liberal, forgiving spirit. And what seems most alarming in the cases of such, is the deception that is upon them, which is almost certain to hold them where they are. The language of the heart is, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” They enjoy great satisfaction in taking this flattering view of their condition. But the terrible deception they are under is exposed in the latter part of the same text: “And knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Oh, unhappy church of Christ! bearing crosses, suffering reproaches, and in her feebleness, standing under the weighty responsibilities of the last message! Christ stands and knocks for admission. Why not open the door and let him in? He says, “Be zealous, therefore, and repent.” Why not break down before God, and seek in good earnest for pure Bible religion? He says, “If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Oh! why bar the dear Saviour from our hearts, and starve and thirst for the bread and water of life, when there is such fulness in Christ? Why not come so near to Christ and Heaven that the flame of supreme love to God, and equal love to our fellows, may kindle to the very depths of the soul? The high privileges, the glorious deliverances, the triumphant victories, and spiritual understanding of the obedient and confiding are described in burning words by the great apostle in his epistle to the Colossians. It is because these blessings are obtainable, that Paul desired and prayed that they “might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son; in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Col. 1:9–14. We repeat the statement that we are a backslidden people. There are to-day but few Seventh-day Adventists who observe the Sabbath as carefully as we did twenty years ago. Many labor right up to the very commencement of the Sabbath, and rob God of a part of his holy day in making those preparations which should be made on the sixth day of the week. And the sinful habit of taking secular matters into the Sabbath in our conversation is growing fearfully upon us. We deeply feel the need of reform in our Sabbath observance, and call attention to the accompanying article on that subject.