Gracious Suffering - Part 2

1. We all suffer because of the consequences of our own sinful decisions and the sins of others. Our world is fallen (Romans 11:32, “For God has shut up all in disobedience, so that He may show mercy to all”).

2. Jesus understands suffering and pain (cf., Hebrews 2:14-16; 4:14-16; 12:1-4).

3. God promises to work all things for good for those who love Him. When we love God His purposes become ours and our lives prove it (cf., Romans 8:28).

4. Suffering for being a follower of Jesus is a form of spiritual intimacy and mystery (cf., Colossians 1:24; 1 Peter 4:13).

5. Suffering reveals what is real and most important in our hearts (cf., 2 Timothy 3:12; Hebrews 5:8).

Matthew 18:21-35

A SLAVE’S DEBT TO A KING


A talent was worth more than 15 years of labor. 10,000 talents x 15 years = 150,000 years = 54,750,000 days of labor = 121,667 generations (average 45 years of age for life expectancy, cf,. Malina considers 42 years to be normative).

A SLAVE’S DEBT TO A SLAVE


The denarius was a day’s wage. This slave owed 100 days of labor to his fellow slave. 100 days of labor is only .00000183 percent of 54,750,000 days of labor.

Fasting in the Old and New Testaments

1. Torah prescription: Leviticus 16:29; 23:26-28.

2. Protection from pollution: Daniel 1:8-13; 9:3-5; 10:3.

3. Penance for individual sin: Joel 2:12; Psalm 69:10.

4. Response to God’s judgment, calamity, crisis: 2 Sam 1:12; Esther 4:16; Neh 1:4; Psalm 109.

5. Act of sincerity & pleading for answer to prayer: Ezra 8:23.

6. Act of worship: Luke 2:37.

7. To discern the will of God: Luke 6:12-13; Acts 13:1-3; 14:23.

8. Spiritual fast of doing the will of God: Isaiah 58; Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13, 18-19.