Gospel | Matthew 18:21-35 (with Nick Locke)

Opening Song:
We the Forgiven by Lang-ah-lee-chay mBuh-HAM-bee and nndoo-MEEh-soh Manana

Lyrics:
We the forgiven must forgive
With no reservation no limit
The debt we owed and could not pay
Was laid on Him who had no blame
Have mercy mercy was his plea
Father forgive them punish me
He gave His life that we may live
So we the forgiven must forgive

Forgive us as we forgive them
That trespass against us

Let not our ransomed hearts forget
If not for mercy we’d be dead
So to all who sin and who transgress
The same cup of mercy must extend
As far as the East is from the West
Are the Redeemed from their offence
It is finished it is done
So all anger must set with the sun

Forgive us as we forgive them
That trespass against us
Forgive us as we forgive them
That trespass against us

Seventy times seven times seven
Times seven we're forgiven forgiven
So we too must forgive them
That trespass against us

We the offenders must believe
The blood spilled on the mercy seat
Was a sufficient recompense
To cleanse us of all unrighteousness
Get up you're free go sin no more
All you have broken go restore
The wrong you see try make it right
This is to follow Jesus Christ

Passage:
21 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?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 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. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 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.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 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. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 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)

Musical Reflection:
Nothing But The Blood (PLAINFIELD) by Robert Lowry

Reflection Notes:
Lowry wrote several hymns for his congregation’s use in the late nineteenth century. This particular tune is pentatonic (only five notes used per octave) and falls within a small vocal range, which made it accessible for all parishioners to sing and enjoy.

Prayer:
Beloved, let us give thanks to God the Father, through his Son, in the Holy Spirit, because in his great love for us he took pity on us, “and when we were dead in our sins he brought us to life with Christ,” so that in him we might be a new creation. Let us throw off our old nature and all its ways and, as we have come to birth in Christ, let us renounce the works of the flesh. [Amen.]
-Leo the Great