The Unforgiving Servant: Part 1 (Matthew 18:21-27)

Hello All,

This poem I wrote on The Unforgiving Servant, which can be found in Matthew 18:21-35, has 13 stanzas so I’m dividing it into Part 1 until 4.

I pray from the bottom of my heart that you will find encouragement in the words of this poem.

The Unforgiving Servant: Part 1 (Matthew 18:21-27)

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling (15^th September 2012)

There was a king who called his servants

To settle accounts of unpaid debts

One servant owed ten thousand talents

And did not have enough to pay him back

Since the servant could not pay his due

The king ordered for him, his wife and children

And all that he owned to be sold until

The debts were met with full reimbursement

The servant fell on his knees in desperation

And implored for mercy to make compensation

For the debts he knew he could never cover

With the meagre wages of a lifetime of labour

The king’s heart was filled with compassion

For the servant’s helpless situation

He released the debtor from his debts

Forgave him completely with no grudges kept

TO BE CONTINUED…..

Romans 3:23-24

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

Points for Reflection:

·         Are there times when you feel the weight of your sin too heavy to bear?

·         If so, just remember that if you have accepted Christ as your Saviour and if you believe that his death on the cross has taken away the penalty of your sin, you need not bear your sin on your shoulders for they have been borne by Christ on the cross.

Romans 8:1-2

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

       

·         Have you ever tried to pay God back for the debt of your sin by doing many good works?

·         Just like the servant in this parable, we will never ever be able to cover the debt our sin no matter how hard we try. It is only through Christ’s atoning death on the cross that is able to make us righteous before a holy God. We do not do good works to become worthy of God but we do good works in response to God’s gracious forgiveness for our sin.

Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

·         Praise God for the assurance of salvation made possible through Christ’s death on the cross. Isn’t it wonderful that we do not have to constantly fear that we are not good enough for God but our good works are the fruits of God’s grace in our lives?