The Dolores star., 1921-01-07
LESSON FOR JANUARY 9
JEsUs TEACHES FoRoIvENEss

JESUS iEASHEs FORGIVENESS.
LESSON TEXT-Matt. Is:2l-s5
GOLDEN TExT-lf ye forgive w.
their trespasses. your heavenly Fa,h..
will also forgive you.-Matt. 6:i
REFERENCE MATERIAI-Ma,, a.,
u: H;ie-0: Luke 7:s. Z: Eph. 1: a -.
Col s:12-1x ~
PRIMARY roPIc-Fors,vin. On, An.
other. "' An
JUNIOR ToPIc-L@arn,nx to Fo-,,
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR ~.
-Forsiving and Forgiven.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOM,
Forgiveness: Its Meaning and Soon.
In this lesson we have divine in
structions hs to our behavior in cos.
Of ill-treatment.
!. Peters Question ". 2D.
This question. "How often shall INV
brother sin against me and l forgive
him?' probably was occasloned by Tho
Ill treatment which Peter was then ra-
ceiving at the hands of his fellow d,s.
ciples. Christ's confession of Peter
Drought him into the llmelIght. The
question OF the disciples QS:1) "Who
Is the greatest In the kingdom OF beav.
enT shows that there was some zeal.
ousy Of Peter among the disciples and
consequent contention among them
From the Lords teaching as to the
efforts to bring about reconciliation in
case OF offenses between brother and
brother He knew that 1t would reauIro
the exercise of the spirit of forgive.
ness. Peter disposed to be gracious In.
quires TIL seven times?" showing his
readiness to forgive his brother nor
three times. but twice three times and
little over.
II. Jesus Answer ". 22).
The Lords answer was an aston,sh.
Ing revelation to Peter He said Not
until seven times, but until seventy
times seven" This shows that our
willingness to forgive should be limit.
less.
III. The Two Creditors wv. 23.35).
This parable of the two creditors IL.
lustrates His principles of forgiveness.
l. The gracious creditor wv. 23-2D.
The king In this parable represents
God, and the servant who is greatly in
debt represents the sinner-any sin.
ner. every sinner, you and me. We
were hopelessly In debt to God. Ten
thousand talents are equal to some
twelve millions of dollars. To meet
this obligation would be an utter I'm.
possibility. This mans plea for time,
promising to pay all, much resembles
our vain imaginings that we can pay
our debt to God, that by our future
good works we can atone for our past
most griveous sins. By the Justice OF
Gods law we were hopelessly con.
demned; by the grace of God we were
freely pardoned.
2. The cruel creditor wv. 2S-3j).
This man who was forgiven SO much
found man who owed him small
sum-about fifteen or seventeen dol.
lars. He shut his ears to the mans
entreaty to be patient with him, flew
Mt his throat and cruelty put him into
jail. The great mercy shown him did
not touch his heart. so he refused to
be merciful. Being set free from so
6aeoe ucDt 10 Jul olHS dsuiHSt poos
we should make Gods act of unlimited
forgiveness toward US the standard Of
unlimited forgiveness toward others.
In dealing with others we should al.
ways keep these considerations before
us: ~ We ourselves need 1t and do
every day continue to need the for
giveness of God. With all our imper-
fections and positive sins we need the
continued mercy of God. When we
pray, Forgive US our debts as we for.
give our Debtors" let us be sure that
we have put away all thought OF SIN
held against others. To pray that
prayer otherwise Is an abomination.
(2) That there Is day of judgment
coming and at that day we shall be
treated as we treat others. No mercy
will be shown to those who have not
shown mercy.
The heart. then, of this lesson Is that
Gods gracious act toward us should
be the standard Of our actions to-
ward others, and that we must exer'
else the same spirit Of forgiveness
toward our fellowmen II we wouio
continue to enjoy Gods forgiveness.
The proof that we are Gods children
is that we manifest the spirit Of Cod
''Be ye therefore perfect, even as your
Father which Is In heaven is perfect
(Matt. 5:4S).