When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
- Matthew 18:24
In Matthew 18, verses 21-35, Jesus speaks a parable.
Parable literally means to "come alongside;" Jesus would often use a parable to come alongside a truth to drive that truth home.
In Matthew 18:21-35, the truth is: we need God's forgiveness.
Jesus describes a King (God) who wants to collect a debt from His servant (you and I).
The amount the servant owes is astronomical: 10,000 talents. A talent was the highest currency unit in first-century Judea— think a billion dollars, ten-thousand times over.
The sum of money is practically uncountable, and if the servant had tried to repay it, he would need many, many lifetimes.
The talents in the parable represent our sin. The sin-debt that we have occurred before God is astronomical, and it is utterly beyond our capacity to repay!
Our only hope is that the King would forgive our debt.
Vs. 27, "And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt."
The King forgives the servant, much like God forgives us. How? Through life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Jesus came, not to be served, but to serve. He came to give His life a ransom for many (Matthew 20).
The sin debt you owed to God, Jesus paid with His perfect obedience and atoning death.
From the cross, Jesus uttered, "It is finished," three words in English, one in Greek, Tetelestai, the word means "The Debt Is Paid in Full."
The debt we owe…King Jesus pays in full. That's good news!
Your prayer, "Jesus, thank you for paying a debt that could never pay."
Press on,
Pastor Chris
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