Biblical Text: Matthew 18:21-35
This sermon is a little bit of a deviation for me. I rarely bring things that I think are speculative into the pulpit. Best to leave them for the study. But this was something that struck me early in the week and just didn’t leave. The text is the parable of the Unforgiving Servant. So there is the simple application of forgiveness. And my speculation doesn’t erase that. It’s not a refrain, but it is a main point. You are always free to forgive. And that is the most Christ like action. But my speculation has to do with a repeated word in the text – brother. Peter’s question is “how many times do I forgive my brother?” Jesus’ summary is “forgive you brother from the heart.” And given the placement in Matthew 18 after the repeat of the Keys of the Kingdom and how to handle sin within the church the question “who is my brother?” came up. And of course that is parallel to the Good Samaritan question “who is my neighbor?” My speculation is that there is a distinction to be made. And a distinction as to what is owed. You owe your neighbor – literally anybody that is in your path – pity and material good. That is what the Good Samaritan does. But you owe your brother – your fellow in the faith – mercy. Forgive your brother. The sermon develops that distinction as well as a description of the path of radical forgiveness.
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