Have you ever wondered about whether there is a limit to forgiveness?
This question has easily entered my mind, as it seems as though there is always someone who is trying to test the limits of forgiveness in my life.
It probably doesn’t surprise you, but Jesus’ number 1 disciple, Peter, had this question as well. In response, Jesus gives us a powerful parable metaphor that should serve to guide us in answering this question.
In this parable, Jesus equates forgiveness with money – specifically with a debt that was owed. When we feel as though someone else owes us (whether they owe money, some other debt, or even an apology), they are placed in a debtor’s position – but usually, unless the deal had been arranged on the front end, the other person does not know about this “debt”.
In many ways, all debts can be illustrated with money metaphors, and therefore, all forgiveness can be illustrated using these metaphors as well.
What is amazing to me about the parable Jesus gave is the extent of debt the man was in. One talent was worth 6,000 days wages, so in this parable where the man owed 10,000 talents, this means that the man owed 60,000,000 days of work, which equals a mere 3,654 years of service, or 137+ lifetimes.
If we “conservatively” estimate this number while translating it into today’s dollars, we still find a pretty big number. Imagine someone who works an 8 hour day, and who is paid $5.75/hour (below minimum wage in most places). In this parable, they would owe only $2,760,000,000.
Now there are a few people in today’s world who have $2.76 billion to their name, but chances are that they earned significantly more than this throughout their life, making their debt calculation on a per day basis significantly higher. In this parable, Jesus is describing a debt that was truly impossible for any single individual to repay.
However, this is our debt to God – the huge expanse that sin caused, and it is truly impossible for us to repay this debt. However, even if it were possible for us, God does not demand that we pay this debt!
God simply forgives the debt. He cancelled it. One moment, we’re in an impossible to repay situation; the next, we are free. This is an amazing gift. You and I are worth more to God than billions and billions of dollars!
However, with this amazing gift comes a sobering reality. Jesus tells us that as we have been forgiven, so we are to forgive others. If someone has hurt you or someone you care about, no dollar amount would be able to undo the action, but remember that no amount of money can repay God in the face of sin. This money talk is simply illustrating how serious God views sin.
The only “requirement” this parable seems to imply (though it really isn’t stated on the front end), is that with the debt that has been cancelled against us, we are to cancel the debts that others owe us. The parable concludes with the man who was forgiven, not extending forgiveness to another who owed him only 100 days wages ($4,600 in our example) – which is a very payable debt if given some time – and God undoing His original debt forgiveness.
We have been forgiven, and God’s forgiveness towards us is contingent on us being forgiving towards others. God forgave an impossible to repay debt and He wants us to extend this grace towards those who have hurt us.
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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