Jesus’ Compassion: The Heart of Missional Livingનમૂનો

Day #4: Matthew 18:23–35

In Matthew 18:21–22, Peter presses Jesus with a question about the urgent matter of forgiveness. “Lord,” he asks, “how often should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?” Peter seems to understand forgiveness as a transactional matter—a brother or sister who has become an offender will be granted a limited number of opportunities (seven) to return to sibling status. Peter’s puny generosity, however, is met by Jesus’ ridiculously extravagant counteroffer: “No, not seven times, but seventy times seven!”

While Peter is probably still reeling at having his feeble attempt at generosity unmasked by Jesus’ words, the Lord tells a kingdom parable that throws the spotlight on the reason that Peter’s offer is inadequate. The true nature of forgiveness, Jesus says, will be found by looking at the Father. This portrait of forgiveness centers on three key words: patience (v. 26), compassion (v. 27), and mercy (v. 33). “Patience” is what the offender asks for, and it is what the offended party (the king) offers him. There is a ready response of grace. The motivation for this gracious patience is “compassion,” which in this case results in actions of release and forgiveness—not only are the consequences of the incurred debt removed, but its reality is also utterly wiped out. The compassion or pity that flows freely from the heart of the king abounds in a new reality for the offender. At the end of the parable, this patience and compassion are bundled together under the heading of “mercy.” Throughout Matthew’s Gospel, mercy is what the blind, the sick, the excluded, and the demon-possessed cry out for in the presence of Jesus—and that is precisely what they find. Patience, compassion, and mercy are at the heart of Jesus’ mission.

Jesus has been quite clear all along that the qualities of the King (his heavenly Father), including mercy and compassion, are to be present in and among his followers. He states quite unequivocally that the presence or absence of these qualities in our interaction with brothers and sisters will be reflected in the Father’s relationship with us. In Matthew 5:7, Jesus declares, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” At the end of our parable in Matthew 18, where mercy was not shown and the compassion-less servant was severely punished, Jesus puts it this way: “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and your sisters from your heart” (v. 35). God takes compassion very seriously!