The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-23
Sunday School Lesson for ADrI d.
A Lesson ON Forgiveness.
Matt. XVIII, 21-35.
BY J. e. GILBERT, D. D., LII. D.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education

in the relation OF the parties and the
amount of the debt.
SERVANT PUNISHED. - The next
scene of the parable depicts the Judgment
that fell upon this heartlcss servant.
There arc at least four items: /. The
conduct of his fellows, who were sorry,
who condemned and reported (versc 81
This Is the first form of retrihution that
overtakcs the wrong-doer-thc loss of
good opinion of associates. 2. The ar
raignment. The Master calls the Culprit
into His presence and says go, thou
wiced servant" (vCrse 32) Unmcrciful-
ness is great wickCdnCSsit is proof of a
bad heart. 3. The reproof 81 had pity
on thee said the Master, "shouldcst
not thou have pity on thy fellow" (verso
33) The act which should have softCned
the heart of the debtor appears to have
been hardened. Mercy had been abused
and perverted. 4. The chastiscment (vcrse
4) The master was angry-hc who had
been compassionate became rcscntful. He
delivered the offender over to the ofli-
GERS to be confined in prison, and there
punished, thus suffering the same as he
had inflicted upon his unfortunate fell
low. The pardon was reversed. The PEN
atty of the law was enforced.
PRINCIPLE STATED.-The parable
being complete Jesus applies it to the
!
personal. speaking directly to those who
were about Him. lie would have the
apostles know. and of course all others
also. that Gods mercy toward mon is
conditioned upon their attitude toward
their fellow men. MY heavenly Father"
he says. for the moment humbling him
self, shall "do unto you likewise. "if
yc forgive not" and. to make the more
forceful the forgiveness must be from
the heart. This same teaching had been
given i'm the sermon on the mount Nlatt.,
vi;1i-1jD The wisdom of the requirement
must appear to all. One law must pre-
vail in the spiritual world--thc same gov
ernng the relation between man and
man as between God and man. Otherwise
there would he favOritism ana confusion
Besides, the formation of character. the
development of the nohler spiritual quail
tiles. is possible only as a man rises into
that higher realm and becomes God-like
I'm that he is merciful. a feeling of re-
lentless animosity toward any person.
whatever the offcnse, is preiudiCal to
every virtue.
THE CONCLUSION.-The influence of
Christs teaching in this case may be
seen in the writings of the apostles.
This same Peter. who raised the ques-
tion, wrote thirty years after, "See that
ye love one another with pure hearts
fervently" G Peter, i:22) John doubtless
had TINS interview IN mlnd when he
said q John i'll, IL, "Ths is the message
that ye heard from the beginning that
we should love one another" Paul not
| only condemned litigation by church
| members q Cor, Vi:G), but set forth in
| the Clearest terms. the very principle of
Christ (Eph., iv:32) "forGiving one an
other. even as God for Christ's sake hath
| forgiven YOU" one of the most beautiful
| of all the precepts in Holy writ. Under
| the inspiration OF this teaching the
1 church of the first century became re-
| nowned for its unity. TOrtullian Ga. d.
| 145-220 in his apology for Christianity
| addressed to "the rulers Of the Roman
! empire" after repelling the charges
| against Christians, pleads in their de-
| fense, that they are peaceable people,
| dwelling together I'm love, having no
| disputes among themselves, and forgiv-
| Ing each others faults, that 1t would
| be better if society were governed by
the same Christian principles.