He Could Not Pay
Bob Yandian
Jesus told the parable in Matthew 18:23-34 of a wealthy businessman who took account of his workers and found one who owed him fifteen million dollars. He brought the man to him and demanded payment. Because the debt was more than the man could pay, the businessman then commanded the man’s wife and children to be sold and the man to be put into prison. The worker then fell down in front of his employer, gave him honor, and asked for patience. He would find some way to pay the debt back. The rich man was then moved with compassion, removed the debt, and set the man free.
The story goes on to tell that the man recently set free found a fellow worker who owed him 15 dollars and likewise demanded the money immediately from him. This man did the same, saying he could not pay the amount, but asked for a time period of grace to find a means to pay. But he was not allowed to and then locked into prison until the debt was paid. When the rich man heard the story, he reinstated the fifteen-million-dollar debt and was shocked that a man recently freed from such a large debt could not forgive another man of a small debt.
Of course, the parable speaks of us as believers. When we sin as Christians, we owe God a great amount. This is not the new birth because a few could afford it. The new birth is far above earthly currency, but the costs of our daily sins is also far above anything we could imagine. When the Lord forgives us so quickly when we confess our sins, we should be grateful to Him and pass that lesson on to anyone else who has sinned against us. When a believer who has wronged us apologizes, we should forgive them for their small transgressions as quickly as God forgives us of our great sins. The price for our redemption as sinners and our forgiveness as Christians is the blood of Jesus. So it is with us toward the transgressions of our fellow members of the Body of Christ.
Spiritual Currency is Worth More Than Natural Currency
“Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of …” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
The blood of Jesus for salvation is a currency far above money. Since there is not enough money in the world to buy one sinner and redeem him, God set the price as free. We see free as cheap, at the bottom of the value of money. But God sees it at the top, far above the total value of all gold, silver and precious jewels found on earth.
With God, free is not worthless, but priceless. Both are at the opposite ends of the value of money. To put a price on priceless destroys its value. To put a price on worthless increases its value. Salvation’s value is priceless. We are worthless.
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters, and you who have no money, come, buy, and eat” (Isaiah 55:1).
Understanding of God’s Word is Also Higher Value Currency
“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her” (Proverbs 3:13-15).
“The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver” (Psalms 119:72).
Also, Job 28:13-19 tells us about the value of gold, silver, onyx, sapphires, jasper, diamonds, or rubies cannot be compared to the value of wisdom of the word.
Heavenly currency is also unlimited and never increases or decreases in value as natural currency does.
Some Things Cannot Be Paid For With Money
“Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him” (Psalms 49:6-8). The NIV says, “No payment is ever enough.”
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37)
The Blood of Jesus For a Believer’s Forgiveness is Also a Currency Above Money
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
When you sin and try to remove the sin and guilt by works, giving, church involvement, or more attendance, you cheapen the value of forgiveness. You are trying to pay with the wrong currency. YOU CANNOT PAY.
You can no more pay for your sins as a believer than as a sinner. But, when you acknowledge your sins, the King releases your debt. It is free to you but priceless to God.
Quit Demanding Payback – They Cannot Pay. Forgive
By holding others accountable for something that they did to you in your past is only hurting yourself. If you have the thoughts that someone needs to pay. Jesus already paid. When forgiveness is given or received, the payment is moved from God’s account to yours – the debt is paid. If you will forgive, the debt will be canceled. “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
