The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-08-08
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JULY 8.

Subject: The Duty Of Forgiveness, Matt.
xviii., 21. .3S-GoIden Text, Matt. w., Ia
Memory Verses, FL, 22-Topic: For
giving One Auother-Commentary
I. Christ's teaching concerning for
giveness Tvs. q, 22). 21. Game Peter"
Peter always made himself very prom
inent. His question was suggested by
Christ's words concerning offenses
against others (Matt. 1876, y. How
Oft" Peter perceives that a law OF
tenderer dealing is to prevail in the
church than exists in the synagogue.
And I forgive" He knew it was his
duty to forgive, b1t the question was
how often. IT'LL seven times" Peter
uses the term seven In strictly literal
sense. The teaching Of the rabbis was
never to forgive more than three times.
%. Until seventy times seven" 1t
is doubtful whether the original means
four hundred and ninety or seventy
seven (seventy times seven, or seven
ty times and seven," as in margin OF
Revised VersioG). But in either case it
is a symbolical expression for never
ending forgiveness.
J..
Tvs. 1920. %. Kingdom Of Heaven
likened." The teachings of Christ with
respect to forgiveness are fully Illus
trated in the parable which follows. 1t
shows, /. The character Of mans rela-
ton to God. 2. The real meaning on
mans part of q distinct refusal to for
give. King" The king represents
God. would make reckoning" r.
V. The picture is drawn from an ORR
entail court. The fundamental moral
principle in Gods kingdom is right
eousness. The great King Of Heaven
and earth will, one day, reckon with all
of His subjects. Servants" Those to
whom God has committed great trusts
and opportunities.
"a. "Ten thousand talents" An
enormous sum. The amount cannot be
reckoned definitely. 1t has been est-
mated all the way from zine to twenty
millions of dollars. 25. Had not to
pay" Our debt to God is SO great that
we are utterly incapable Of making
Him any satisfaction whatever. Com
manded him to be sold" An allusion
to the Law of Moses. See Exod. 22:3;
Lev. 25:39, A.; 2 Kings Al. Creditors
had power to sell insolvent debtors in
several countries Of Europe, as we'll as
in Asia, in ancient times. We thus see
by this parable what our sins deserve.
Captives to sins ere captives to wrath
"And payment to be made" The
amount obtained would be wholly in
adequate to cancel the debt, but as
large a payment was to be made as
possible.
26. "Will pay thee ALL" The debt is
admitted. and he comes pleading for
mercy. The means which sinner
should use to be saved are, l. Deep
humiliation of heart. 2. FerVent
prayer. 3. Confidence in the mercy of
God. 4. A firm purpose to devote his
soul and body to his Maker.
q. "Forgave him the debt" We
are debts of our heavenly King. But,
if we cast ourselves at His feet, He Is
ready in infinite compassion not only
to release US from punishment, but to
forgive US the debt.
III. The doom of the unforgl7ing Tvs.
2S-35). %. "An hundred pence"
About fifteen or sixteen dollars. About
one millionth part of the debt this TN
merciful servant had owed the king.
"Took him b. the throat" Thus mani
Testing q most unkind and base dispos1.
tion. The sin is greatly aggravated
when we consider his own debt, and
the mercy shown him. What are my
brothers. sins against me compared to
my numberless sins against God. "Pay
me that thou owest." He was un'
willing even to forgive him a single
dollar. He must pay N full and pay at
once. We must be very careful and
not show this same disposition in our
treatment of others. 20. Fell down
at his feet" His fellow-servant hum.
bled himself and plead for mercy as ne
himself had done just before this.
80. And he would not" Such
man; so harsh and hard against those
who are in every way his equals. lg.
norance of his own condition makes
him unforgiying and cruel to others,
81. "Were very sorry" An act OF thls
kind is SO dishonorable to all true
Christians, and to the spirit of the Cos
pei, that through the concern they felt
for the prosperity Of the cause OF
Christ they are obliged to speak
against it. so. "Thou wicked servant"
Unmercifulness is great wlckedness
To the unmerciful, God will have no
mercy; this is an eternal purpose of the
Lord which can never be changed
Jesus said, IF ye forgive not men thei
trespasses, neither will your Father
forgive your trespasses" Matt. 6:15),
SO. Even as I had pity On thee"
NJ &c chnJun nhIlpQ.
ton he is under to his felloW-seryant
because of the mercy that had been
shown him. 1t is justly expected that
those who have received mercy shaii
show mercy.
"a. Delivered him to the torment
ers." The person who does not nave
forgiving spirit will be tormented
both in this world and in the world tC
come. A guilty conscience, the fear OF
the Judgment day and the fires Of Gods
wrath (Rev. 2O:15) will, in turn, acl
as tormenterS. "All that was due"
And inasmuch as the amount was sc
great that he could never pay it, he
must have been delivered over to the
tormenters forever. The wicked Will DC
banished eternally from the presence
Of God.
So. $50 likewise" This verse is al
application of the whole parable. The
parable is not intended to teach us thai
God reverses His pardons to any; but
that He denies them to those who are
not worthy Of them. Those who have
not forgiven others their trespasse:
have never yet truly repented, and
that which is spoken of as having been
taken away is only what they seemed
to possess. Luke S:1G.