Matt, xviii. 32 — 35. Then his lord, afte?' he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy felloiv-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 ivas 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.
MEN in general think themselves sufficiently in- structed in morality ; but, for the most part, their views of it are very partial and defective. The duty of for- giving injuries is universally acknowledged ; but few are aware to what an extent it is required of them.
Peter, though a good man, needed much instruction on this head. He thought the hmits he assigned to this principle were generous and ample ; but our Lord rectified his judgment by an explicit declaration, and pointed out the grounds of his duty in an instructive parable.
From the words before us we are led to consider the extent, the reasonableness, and the necessity, of Christian forgiveness :
I. The extent — [It does not forbid the execution of human laws, since magistrates are appointed of God on purpose to enforce them*: nor does it prohibit the just exercise of authority in parents or masters. But it must extend to all offences, however nume- rous, however heinous'' And proceed from a heart
wholly divested of malice or resentmenf^ We need
not indeed restore to our favour one who continues unworthy of it^; or forbear to punish him while he coiitinues to merit our displeasure. But we must pity the offender while we punish the offence ; and seek, in inflicting punishment, both his and the public good. We must feel towards him as an affectionate parent towards an offending child '^. We must feel disposed to pray for him, and to cover, rather than expose, his faults*"; and we must earnestly desire to behold in him such a dispo- sition, as may open a way to perfect reconciliation with him.]
II. The reasonableness —
[Every man owes to God a debt that exceeds all calcula- tion Nor can the debt which any fellow-creature owes
to us, bear any proportion to that which we owe to God^. Yet we all hope to obtain of God a free remission and for- giveness; yea, provided we believe in Christ, our debt is already cancelled. Should not then a sense of mercy received, incline us to shew merjcy? Should we " take a fellow-servant by the throat," when the great Lord of all has spared us ? Should we rigorously exact a few pence, when we have re- ceived a remission of ten thousand talents? It would be base indeed not to act towards an offending brother, as God has acted towards us, when we were enemies and rebels^.]
a Rom. xiii. 4. ^ " Seventy times seven."
= Prov. xxiv. 29. ^ Luke xvii. 3, 4.
e ^^ From your hearts." ^ Prov. xxiv. 17, 18.
K Ten thousand talents amount to above four millions sterling ;
whereas a hundred pence are somewhat less than three guineas, Doddr. in loc.
h The Jubilee commenced on the day of atonement, to shew that