Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-05-23
aIST,AN ENDEAVOk.


27-Comment by Rev. >. II. Doyle.
ToYIc.-Have patience.--Msth. xviii, 2l-s5.
THE PARABLE.
Christ has recently said. 'If thy
brother shall trespass against thee. 20
and tell him his fault between thee and
him alone" This leads Peter to ask.
How oft shall my brother sin against
me and l forgive him - till seven
times?'' The Pharisees said three
times. and Peter no doubt thought
seven was generous number. but Je
sus replied. Il say not unto thee seven
times, but until seventy times seven
that is. no definite number, as three or
seven. but always have a spirit OF will
ingness to forgive. This truth Christ
then illustrates in the parable of The
Unmerclful Servant" which has been
selected for our study. A king calls
his servants to account. One owed
him 10000 talents, great sum. which
he could not pay. The king therefore
ordered him and his family to be sold
to pay the debt. The servant begged
humbly for more time, saying, Have
patience with me, and l will pay thee
ALL" The king, going further even
than he asked. generously forgave him.
But this servant went out and found
one who owed him and brutally de-
manded what was owed, and In spite
Of his fellow servants appeal he re-
fused to have mercy, but had him cast
into prison. The king was told He
recalled his pardon and had the unmer-
ciful servant delivered into the hands
of the tormentors until he could pay.
THE INTERPRETATION.
The Interpretation of this parable is
easily made if we except one particular
which must be borne In mind. The
king Is God; men are his debtors. None
of Us can pay what we owe God. God
win forgive US only when we are will
ing to forgive our fellow men who
have trespassed against US. The para
BILE does not teach that God gives a
pardon and then recalls it, as the king
did. Christ simply means to illustrate
that unless we forgive God will not
forgive us. The illustration is human
and hence imperfect, but the one truth
taught is clearly evident
THE APPLICATION.
Two practical lessons may be drawn
from this parable that will apply and
enforce the topic.
1. God is willing to have patience
with us. The king bore most mercifui-
ly and generously with his debtor, who
could not pay. He graciously forgaye
him the debt. and in this he Is typical
Of God. in whose debt we are. God
is willing 20 forgive US. He always
deals patiently and mercifully with US.
Did He not do so, we could not stand
for single moment before Him. Let
US appreciate Gods mercy and patient
endurance and thank Him for them.
2. Since God has patience with US,
we should have patience with our fell
low men. The generosity of the king
in forgiving his servant a great debt
should have made it a Joy for him TO
have forgiven fellow servant much
smaller debt. His action was base
and ungrateful, and we applaud the
kings action in recalling his pardon.
He was unworthy of it. 1t had been
misplaced. God makes no mistakes.
He needs to recall no pardons. He
sees the heart and knows whether we
are willing to forgive men their tres
passes against us, and, IL not, He will
not, yea. cannot. forgive US. To be
forgiven we must forgive.
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Let the leader explain the parable
and then have an open, voluntary dis
cussion of the topic.
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps. xxxvii. Z; Eccl. vii. s; Math. vi.
12-15; Rom. Y, 1-5: Eph. iv. 81: Titus
ii. 1, 2; Heb. vi. IL; XII. /. 2; Jas. V,
I'll; Pet Ii. 1925.