Restoration and Forgiveness

Setting and Overview
The second half of chapter 18 opens up in verses 15-17 with very specific instructions regarding church discipline and the only actual use of the word “church” in what is usually referred to as a discourse about the church. Much of the heart of the chapter is commonly referenced, but rarely do those references actually reflect the context of the chapter, which robs them of much of their power. From the opening instruction about humility through parable about forgiveness, Jesus weaves his points together to provide a powerful and convicting picture of faithful discipleship in the church, and it is only when seen as a whole that we can fully appreciate and follow his instruction.

Exposition
Following his reminder of how much the Father desires for those who have gone astray to return, Jesus provides the disciples with a four step process for carrying out discipline with those who have fallen into habitual sin. There are some textual differences which make it unclear whether this is addressed only to the person sinned against, but elsewhere Scripture affirms the involvement all of the church community in addressing sins (Galatians 6, I Corinthians 5-6, I Thessalonians 5.) The first step is for one person to try to convince them of their sin, and implicitly, the need to repent and cease sinning. If that is not successful, then they should take others with them, and if that is still not successful, then bring in the whole church. If even that does not convince them, then they should cut them out of community with other disciples, but with the goal that ultimately that will lead to their restoration (Galatians 6:1, I Corinthians 5:5.) While such decisions carry great weight and Christians could be hesitant about bearing the consequences of their disciplinary actions, Jesus repeats his words from Matthew 16:19 to assure them that when they make such decisions in agreement with each other and the guidance of Scripture, that they are simply affirming in their community what is a spiritual reality.
As clean as such a process may sound, however, real life is messy and those who were sinned against may still struggle to extend forgiveness. Rabbinic standards of the time were that a person should be willing to forgive up to three times, and Peter likely thought that he was being gracious by suggesting a standard of seven times. In language echoing Genesis 4:23-24, Jesus tells him to forgive up to seventy-seven times, meaning that he should put no limit on it. He then gives the reason to extend such forgiveness in a parable. In the parable a servant has amassed a massive debt that he cannot pay back. The king initially commands for him and his family to be sold, an action that would still fall far short of satisfying the debt. The servant begs for time to pay him back, a request that he would have no ability to honor. Instead, the king fully writes off the debt. Despite receiving such grace, the servant immediately fails to extend even a fraction of such grace to a fellow servant, and when word gets back to the king, the king assigns the debt back to him and commands him to be turned over for torturing. Jesus closes the parable with a warning that those who fail to forgive from their heart will be treated the same (Matthew 5:7. 6:14-15.) Ultimately this parable not only reflects both the justice and mercy of God, but also shows the Kingdom of God to be a place where the forgiven also display forgiveness, and those who display no such forgiveness reveal themselves to be outside.

Examination and Application
While this chapter ends with an unflinching reminder of the expectations of his disciples, this is something that Jesus has been clear about through his teaching (Matthew 5:3, 10, 7:21-23.) Likewise, just as those who experience God’s forgiveness cannot but help to be transformed by it, so too must those who have learned of the love and holiness of Christ reflect that in their humility. This humility in turn will share the way that we look out for each other, how we are eager and careful to guard ourselves, and we carry out the work of restoration and forgiveness. This work is a heavy responsibility, but also a blessed on. Not only are we blessed by being able to extend forgiveness to those who need it, but so too are we reminded that the restoring work we do to others is a reflection of what is offered to us when we go astray ourselves. Ultimately that should embolden us to carry out the work of discipline, but to do so with humility, compassion, and forgiveness.