The Life of Christ

• The operative word is “agree.” Once agreement is reached concerning these issues, it will be “done in heaven.”

Mt. 18:20 “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.”

A heavenly quorum develops when just two or three gather in Christ’s name.

• The difference between being alone and gathered with one or two others is that the latter situation develops into a micro representation of the church.

• In that setting, forgiveness can be granted, and conflicts resolved.

Mt. 18:21-22 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

Peter considered himself quite magnanimous by his willingness to forgive someone who had offended him seven times over the same issue.

• The Talmud suggested that you only had to forgive your brother three times.

• Peter decides to double that amount, and throw in one more for good measure, thus rounding it off to a strong spiritual number.

• Jesus, however, shows Peter the puniness of his forgiving heart by increasing the recommendation to 7 x 70 times, the Hebrew expression for unlimitedness.

• We assume that the brother repents each time prior to the issuing of forgiveness, based upon the following associated parable.

Mt. 18:23 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a certain king who wished to settle accounts with his slav es.”

This king represents God.

• The servant who owes 10,000 talents symbolizes each of us in our unforgiven state; we owe a debt of sin far beyond our ability to ever repay.

• The servant who owes the 100 denarii speaks of a believer who is in some way indebted after offending a fellow believer.

• The tormentors represent forces of Satan.

The servants mentioned in this parable were certainly not “bond - servants,” but probably the governors of provinces, or those in charge of the revenue and financial matters of the kingdom.

• We are dealing with large sums of money.

Mt. 18:24 “And when he had begun to settle them, there was brought to him one who owed him ten thousand talents.”

208