“Then summoning him, his lord said to him, `You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.”

Matthew 18:32

In Matthew 18 we read about a servant who was in debt to his master. Jesus is telling Peter a parable of the Kingdom of Heaven. Peter asks Jesus about forgiveness. Christ links forgiveness to Heaven. Only forgiven people are in Heaven. In verse 30 Jesus said, “But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.” The master will not have the patience for the servant to pay his debt.

We all owe God a debt for the sins we have committed. There is a penalty due. We are all by nature sinful. We cannot honour the debt; we cannot pay what is required by God. That is why Christ paid the debt on our behalf. On the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ met the full force of God’s wrath and justice. All who trust in Christ’s finished work on the cross are forgiven. The wrath of God was satisfied on the cross. Christ’s shed blood washes us clean and presents us righteous before the throne of Heaven. Today, ask yourself the following questions considering the Gospel.

1. Are you a forgiven sinner?
2. If you were to die tomorrow, are you sure of Heaven?
3. Do you forgive others as God forgives us?