Parables of Christ - Part 3

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Today’s voice note is one I suggest you do not skip. It includes part of my testimony for Christ.

Audio Version of the Note and downloadable for distribution

The House of Bread · Voice Note For 20241004 - Forgiveness - Parables Of Christ - Part 3

Forgiveness

Luke 7:36-50 KJV

[36] And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. [37] And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, [38] and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. [39] Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. [40] And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. [41] There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. [42] And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? [43] Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. [44] And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. [45] Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. [46] My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. [47] Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. [48] And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. [49] And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? [50] And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.7.36-50.KJV

Matthew 6:14-15 KJV

[14] For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [15] but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.6.14-15.KJV

Matthew 18:21-35 KJV

[21] Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? [22] Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. [23] Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. [24] And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. [25] But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. [26] The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. [27] Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. [28] But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. [29] And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. [30] And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. [31] So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. [32] Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: [33] shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? [34] And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. [35] So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.18.21-35.KJV

Mark 11:25 KJV

[25] And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

https://bible.com/bible/1/mrk.11.25.KJV

Note for 20241004

By now we should know that we must forgive others too. In the scriptures we read today, there is a relation made between the debt we as people hold against each other, and the debt of sin before Christ Jesus. And while it may not be clear immediately to all, Christ forgave sin even before He went to the cross for us. So too, we can forgive before we receive our reward from Him. Only He to Whom the debt is owed can forgive the debtor. To Whom is the debt of sin then owed? Do you remember Matthew 25:40 yet? What we have done to the least, we have done unto Christ. We have been given to Christ, so He might save us. When we sin against the Word of GOD, the Word of GOD, which is manifest in Christ, can forgive us. The cross is where He paid that sin of debt on our behalf.

Now, there is a substantial amount of reading for today already, so I do not want to burden you with much more. We know from the Word of GOD that the Lamb alone is worthy to forgive sin, and we know that He said, what we loosen here on earth will be loosen in heaven and what we bind here, will be bound in Heaven. It is Christ that gave us, who believe in Him, authority. And from the text, that we will be forgiven as we forgive. We have also read, judge not lest ye be judged by the same measure.

What is it then to forgive? You see, the one who forgives pays the price for that forgiveness in the place of him that is due for the debt. The loss or the harm of that debt is taken on by the one who forgives it. The lord of the servant who owed much was prepared to take that loss on himself, but when that servant neglected to forgive his fellow servant, his lord was filled with wrath. This parable spoken by Christ is a clear indication of how He Himself will judge us in this matter. So friends, we cannot say we didn't know. Christ told us beforehand.

Have we forgiven those that come against us? How about those that stand for another political party, or those that we compete with? Do we hold a grudge when someone will not take what we want to give? What about those that will not buy what we have to sell, or those who will not listen to what we have to say? What about those that criticize us, or worse, those that harm us in some way? Dare I ask, what is depression then? Are we owed a debt of love? What of a debt of loyalty? What about a debt of peace? Acceptance? Inclusion? Approval? How many more can we add to this list when we consider words like, "expectation" and "human rights?" Is it fair to ask then, whether we increase debts owed by others by demand based on what we expect of them, whether they agree or not? Is it fair to expect from anyone to treat us according to our own value system, when they are from another set of values all together? How soon does unforgiveness increase in society today then? Are we not forced to accept values that are against our faith in Christ too? Even legally? So I ask again, what is forgiveness? Did Christ not forgive the woman who was caught in adultery too?

I put it to you that man needs a reset in our viewpoints. Does the Word not also say that those that live wickedly will continue on in their wickedness and those that live righteously must continue on in righteousness? I state this for perspective. Can man fulfill the law? Is that not why Christ came to do it in our stead? Shall we then approve of wickedness? Heaven forbid, no! But, as Christ forgave, so can we. Forgiveness does not make the act right, it carries the price. If someone cut off your arm, does it grow back when you forgive them? No. But you carry on living without that arm, not holding it against the person who harmed you. Just as Christ went to the grave for us. Just as Christ was restored to life by God our Father, so will we be restored when we come to our Father in Heaven. By His mercy and grace, that restoration might even come beforehand, just as I was miraculously healed after my skull was crushed by a baseball bat, and now you would never say that I was harmed like that.

Forgiveness is about being willing to pay the price instead of it being accounted to the one who harmed you or caused you loss. You take that loss on you, so the other person can be freed from that debt before our Father in Heaven and Christ our Lord. In essence, it is when we say to the Lord, "It is okay, I will bear this burden for his sake. There is no need for vengeance here." So too, did Stephan pray for forgiveness for those who were busy stoning him to death.

Have you forgiven all, or are you still keeping a book of what is owed to you? Do you still say, "if that didn't happen to me, I would not be in this trouble now?" Friends, I show you the root of depression and it is unforgiveness. Are you ready to be healed of depression, then forgive all as you have been forgiven by Christ.

Just for information sake, I speak from personal experience.

Shalom

Verse of The Day

(YouVersion - Expanded from verse 22 and 23)

Galatians 5:18-24 KJV

[18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. [24] And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

https://bible.com/bible/1/gal.5.18-24.KJV