The Debt We Could Never Pay

By Dean Collins

How would it feel to be debt free? Some readers may wonder if it is humanly possible to ever get to that moment when the credit card doesn’t have a balance, the school loan has been paid, the car payments are over, or even the day they no longer have a mortgage payment. And some readers could share the joy of the moment when they were no longer paying interest and actually owned that home or car.  

But as good as it might be to be out of a financial obligation, there is another debt that is more than anyone can ultimately bear or pay.

Years ago, I learned a chorus whose words are appropriate for us to consider:

“He paid a debt he did not owe.

I owed a debt I could not pay.

I needed someone to take my sins away.

And now I sing a brand new song,

Amazing grace all day long.

Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.”

In several places in his epistles, Paul wrote of this powerful and life-giving act of forgiveness that is ours because of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 ESV)

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” (Colossians 2:13-15 ESV)

 As we embrace the reality of our debt being paid by Jesus, we need to also consider what Jesus told us about how we are to forgive others. Depending on the severity of the insult, the harm, and the loss that we have received because of the words or actions of another, we have a tendency to continue to hold on to the hurt and yearn for the punishment of the offender to be quick and awful. Yet to do so is in direct opposition to the commands of Jesus.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us what we refer to as the Lord’s Prayer. I won’t include the entire prayer, but I am sure you can quote it and know exactly the line in this prayer that I am drawing attention to:

“Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”

But Jesus continued his teaching right after the prayer he gave us: 

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Peter may have been thinking about this when later in Matthew he asked Jesus how many times he needed to forgive his brother. Seven times seemed like a generous suggestion by Peter. Jesus shocked Peter with this instruction: “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Jesus went on to give a parable to illustrate his point. I won’t tell the story, but you can read the text below.

 “Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servantfell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:21-35 ESV)

I hope that one day you have the wonderful feeling of having paid all your financial debts. But what is paramount to remember is that because of Jesus, not only are our debts paid through his sacrifice on the cross. One indication that we are faithfully following Jesus is rooted in our willingness to offer grace and mercy to others by forgiving them for the wrongs they have committed against us. We cannot claim to be a follower of Christ and withhold forgiveness from those who harm us.

This quote from Bible teacher, Andy Stanley is worthy of consideration.

“In the shadow of my hurt, forgiveness feels like a decision to reward my enemy, but in the shadow of the cross, forgiveness is merely a gift from one undeserving soul to another.”

 Father, we admit that our hearts grow hard when we fail to forgive those who hurt us. Forgive us. Fill us with your love and compassion and lead us to those we need to forgive for our sake, for their sake, and for your kingdom to be more visible on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 6:9-13 ESV

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