Your Account Has Come Due

When Jesus speaks to us about forgiveness, He uses the image of financial debt and the emotional burden of greed that goes along with finances. In the Gospel story of about forgiveness, Jesus offers the parable of a king forgiving a debt that could never have been paid off, but was forgiven. The greedy servant, rather than being thankful for the mercy shown to him by the king, immediately demanded his fellow servant to “either pay up, or go to jail,” even though the debt was a mere 100-days pay. Greed had created a cold heart on the part of the servant, so the king sentenced him to prison. What does this parable have to teach us? Jesus warns, "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses." (Matthew 18.35) Your account has come due, and Jesus is willing to forgive the debt of your sins. In return, He asks you to open your heart to those who sinned against you, and forgive them, just as He has forgiven you.