THE WEEK OF TRINITY XXII - TUESDAY

LESSON: 1 JOHN 2:1‒6

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’” Matthew 18:23‒26

The message which this servant heard from his lord and master was anything but joyful. In all seriousness and deadly earnest, the master delivered a most startling and shocking judgment. The servant becomes so distressed that he falls down and begs for patience. He makes a promise exceeding all his power of fulfillment, saying, “Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” Here we have a picture, a portrait of those for whom the Gospel really has a message.

This is also how matters stand between us and God. When God wants to settle accounts, He sees to it that His Law is preached through which we learn to know our indebtedness. For example, He tells our conscience, “You shall have no other god but regard Me alone as your God, love Me with your whole heart, and place all your trust and reliance on Me alone.” This is the account, the register, in which what we owe Him is written down.

What does the servant do? He makes an offer, fool that he is, to pay his debt. He falls down and asks his lord to have patience with him. Nothing can save this man but the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness.

SL.XI.1791,8‒11
AE. 79:255-265

PRAYER: Lord God, when we look at our lives in light of Your holy Law, we see nothing but sin and condemnation. Our sins are truly many and great. Our one and only consolation is that as our loving heavenly Father You do not look at our sins according to Your Law, but that You regard us in accordance with the righteousness offered us in Your Gospel, in and through Christ our Savior. Amen.