NO STRINGS ATTACHED

Matthew 18: 21-35

Lord’s Prayer Series

November 11, 2001

"Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name….Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us."

In Saturday’s Body and Soul section of the Yakima Herald-Republic, there was an article regarding how churches are missing the boat in the aftermath of September11 in teaching the important messages of the Christian faith. Well, little could be more important than talking about living the Lord’s Prayer. Right in the heart of Jesus’ prayer that he taught his disciples is the petition regarding forgiveness – asking God for forgiveness. How appropriate it is that this lies in the middle of the prayer, because forgiveness lies in the very heart of God. To begin to understand the nature of God we must grasp the power and revolutionary concept of forgiveness. Yet, we must also recognize that this is the only petition that has a condition – that God forgive us to the degree that we are willing to forgive those who have sinned against us.

Precisely because forgiveness is at the heart of the nature of God makes it all the more difficult for us to grasp and live. If an uncle raped his niece when she was a child, I could understand why it would be difficult for her be around him, let alone to forgive. If another person physically abused a person, I can see why forgiveness is the last thing on his or her mind. If a family member embezzled funds from the family business to the point of bankruptcy, there would be a lot of anger and hurt; would forgiveness be possible? What if someone dishonored your name and reputation in the community, could you forgive? If a close friend or loved one shatters your trust in them, can you forgive? If another person killed a loved one of yours, can we talk forgiveness? No one said it would be easy or quick.

Revenge and retaliation are natural responses when we are violated in some way. We want to get even; let’s do it to them. In Genesis 4: 23-24 there is the short passage about a man named Lamech who tells his wives, "I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-seven fold." Revenge – kill a person for wounding him. In the Old Testament, we have in the Torah the teaching of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." The original meaning behind that law was to limit revenge to equal damage, to limit the escalation of the retaliation. This is in mind of the Jesus when we read from our Matthew text the question of Peter when he asked how often we should forgive. Seven times? - thinking that was more than enough. Jesus said, seventy-seven times - the opposite of Lamech. Not to be taken literally, Jesus was using a hyperbole to say that it is unending. And if we are keeping count, then we have not, we are not, forgiving.

If we take the teachings of Jesus seriously, we have to realize that Jesus calls us to move beyond revenge and retaliation, because they will never bring love and peace into anyone’s heart and mind, let alone bring love and peace into the world. Vengeance belongs to God who knows the heart of everyone. Jesus said, "You have heard of old that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well…"

"To forgive is to make a conscious choice to release the person who has wounded us from the sentence of our judgment, however justified that judgment may be. It represents a choice to leave behind our resentment and desire for retribution, however fair such punishment might seem." (Marjorie Thompson Weavings, March/April 1992, p19). This doesn’t mean that the hurt or wound is ever completely forgotten but that the power of that to confine us to the replaying of that event is broken.

Marjorie Thompson, in an article entitled, "Moving Toward Forgiveness," speaks about how our refusal to forgive holds us captive to that other person through our conscious and unconscious resentment. We are bound to them. See those strings tied to your wrists? The other end is tied to someone. To whom are you bound by your refusal to forgive?

In the Latin Roman Catholic Mass, there is the phrase, "Kyrie eleison" - Lord, have mercy. The literal meaning of the word, "eleison" means to unbind. Our English word, liaison, means bond, to make a connection. So, when we cry out, "Lord, have mercy" we are crying, "Lord, unbind us." When we refuse to forgive, we are held in bondage to that person; when we are able to forgive, we are set free, loosened from our anger, vengeance and hurt.

A possible translation of this part of the Lord’s Prayer from the Syrian Aramic language can read,

"Loose the cords of mistakes binding us,

as we release the strands we hold of others’ guilt.

Lighten our load of secret debts

As we relieve others of their need to repay.

Forgive our hidden past, the secret shames,

As we consistently forgive what others hide.

How tied are you in your hurt, anger, revenge to someone or some group?

The parable says that one of the managers or employees of this gentile king owed 10,000 talents. Ten thousand talents was as big a figure as anyone could imagine at that time. King Herod only took in through taxes 900 talents in a year. Ten thousand is to represent an impossible number – huge. It is like owing someone the total worth of Bill Gates. Then we have a servant who owes this first employee 100 denarii, which, though no small amount was at least payable. Contrast $5,000,000 to $5,000; get the point? Jesus once again uses exaggeration to make his point. If we who have done our share of mistakes and sins toward God and we ask God (and believe) to forgive, who are we to not forgive our sister and brother, our neighbor and fellow human being for something which is much more insignificant, small potatoes.

If we expect God to forgive us but we refuse to forgive another person, can God really forgive us? If we refuse to pass on to others the grace that we desire, then we have blocked God’s grace from acting in our lives. To that extent, we limit God; we control the ability of God to work in our lives. God, I believe, wants to flood this planet with love, grace, wholeness, happiness and peace. That would be the reign of God. But it is God’s people, people like you and me, who limit that flood of grace and wholeness when we cling to our anger, our revenge, our retaliation and our desire to be in power over other people. Instead of saying, "let them rot in hell," what if we said, "Transform them by transforming me, O God."

Nobody said that forgiveness would ever be easy; it may be the most difficult thing to do. Forgiveness cannot be forced. If we forgive someone through clinched teeth, we have not forgiven. It may take much time, even many years, but the road begins with the honest recognition before God that we are still holding grudges and feelings of revenge. Being honest with God is the first step.

Jesus, on the cross, somehow was able to say, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." God could have stopped the crucifixion. God could have blasted everyone right then and there with some cosmic laser. But in Jesus’ words on the cross, we see demonstrated the very power of God, not of retaliation, not of revenge. We see into the every heart of God the power of forgiveness, a power that overcomes evil. What appears to be weakness and foolishness is the very heart and power of God.

As I thought of this sermon this week, I examined my own life and realized that I was still attached to someone through my anger and hurt, and that hurt surfaced every now and then as I thought of them. I have been carrying that hurt and anger around too long; it is time to give it up, time to forgive and love.

What about you? I want you to examine your hearts and minds. If you are attached to someone through your anger or hurt, do you want to stay in that position, or do you wish to be set free? Look at that string; you decide.