PODCAST
Show Forgiveness and Mercy
June 22nd, 2017
Ephesians 4:17-32
One of the saddest parables in the Bible is about a king who decided to settle up accounts with his servants (Matthew 18:21-35). One who owed the king millions of dollars fell to his knees and begged for mercy, promising to pay back what was owed. The king did show mercy: in fact, he completely canceled the debt of that servant.
However, the story doesn’t end there. That servant went out and found someone who owed him only about a day’s wages. When the man said he could not pay, the servant had him thrown into debtors’ prison. Other servants who knew the whole story were incensed and told the king what happened. The angry king hauled the merciless servant in, saying, “Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” (Matthew 18:33).
Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus with instructions on how to live the life of righteousness. Chapter four of this letter ends with the admonition: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). When we recognize the great mercy shown us, how can we not show that same mercy to others?
Author: Curtiss A. Hartley
