The Resistance - Day 29
Day 29: Thursday, March 09
Read Matthew 18:21-35
Highlight
This passage communicates a question by one of Jesus’ disciples and Jesus’ parable to help explain his answer. To help understand the conversation, we need to understand the numbers that are being used.
First, when Peter suggests that he should forgive someone as many as seven times, he’s showing off. In rabbinic literature from the time, the consensus was that you ought to forgive someone three times and then stop. Peter thinks he is more than twice as forgiving as God requires. However, Jesus’ answer shows that Peter doesn’t understand the heart of God on this.
To reveal the heart of God, Jesus tells a parable. A parable is a story that communicates a truth about God and his Kingdom. To understand the parable, we need to know what “talents” and “denarii” are. A denarius is essentially a single day’s wage for a common laborer or soldier. So 100 denarii was not an insignificant sum… But it is nothing compared to 10,000 talents. Experts on the first century have estimated that 10,000 talents would be equal to millions of dollars in modern terms. This makes Jesus’ point clear - the offense of your brother isn’t insignificant in isolation, but it doesn’t compare to how much God has forgiven you for.
Reflection
Every passage in the Bible, including the one you just read, is “...inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” Let the passage challenge you as you reflect on it, but always cling to the full context of Scripture, which tells us that “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Praise God!
Prayer
Let the passage we just read guide your prayers. Use the acronym ACTS.
Adoration - Praise God for the truth this passage communicated about him.
Confession - Confess to God the thing that this passage showed you is wrong in your life.
Thanksgiving - Thank God for what this passage taught you was true about you and for the ways He is already helping you to do what is right.
Supplication - Ask God for help to do what this passage teaches to do and accomplish the good works he has for you.
Read Matthew 18:21-35
Highlight
This passage communicates a question by one of Jesus’ disciples and Jesus’ parable to help explain his answer. To help understand the conversation, we need to understand the numbers that are being used.
First, when Peter suggests that he should forgive someone as many as seven times, he’s showing off. In rabbinic literature from the time, the consensus was that you ought to forgive someone three times and then stop. Peter thinks he is more than twice as forgiving as God requires. However, Jesus’ answer shows that Peter doesn’t understand the heart of God on this.
To reveal the heart of God, Jesus tells a parable. A parable is a story that communicates a truth about God and his Kingdom. To understand the parable, we need to know what “talents” and “denarii” are. A denarius is essentially a single day’s wage for a common laborer or soldier. So 100 denarii was not an insignificant sum… But it is nothing compared to 10,000 talents. Experts on the first century have estimated that 10,000 talents would be equal to millions of dollars in modern terms. This makes Jesus’ point clear - the offense of your brother isn’t insignificant in isolation, but it doesn’t compare to how much God has forgiven you for.
Reflection
Every passage in the Bible, including the one you just read, is “...inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” Let the passage challenge you as you reflect on it, but always cling to the full context of Scripture, which tells us that “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Praise God!
- What truth does this passage communicate about God? About us? About our world?
- Has God used this passage to highlight something that is wrong in your life?
- What does this passage teach us to do? What is one practical thing you can do to apply this to your life?
Prayer
Let the passage we just read guide your prayers. Use the acronym ACTS.
Adoration - Praise God for the truth this passage communicated about him.
Confession - Confess to God the thing that this passage showed you is wrong in your life.
Thanksgiving - Thank God for what this passage taught you was true about you and for the ways He is already helping you to do what is right.
Supplication - Ask God for help to do what this passage teaches to do and accomplish the good works he has for you.
Posted in The Resistance