Matthew 18:25 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Matthew 18:25

Comments

This man is put under judgement. There was no possibility that he can defend himself; the records show exactly what he has done, and there is no denying it. He doesn’t attempt to defend himself under these circumstances. His debts had been hanging over him for years, and he feared a day of reckoning would come, but he didn’t want to face up to it and so he had been pushing it out of mind. But now everything has caught up with him. He is going to be cast down and humiliated. He will be treated as a slave with no status, his reputation in ruins. Obviously he hadn’t reckoned on this. Although he realised technically that he owed a great deal, he somehow thought he could put off the day of reckoning indefinitely. It would be too much trouble for his master to investigate his affairs, or he could fob him off with a promise of repayment in the future. But no, he is under judgement of the king, and although he is rich, he cannot possibly repay this vast sum which has been accumulating for years. The king therefore commands that he be sold into slavery, together with his wife and children, and at least some steps be taken to recoup the enormous debt. What a humiliation! What will he do? He is terrified, having perhaps pampered himself in self-indulgence for years, and got used to the luxuries of high living. He is going to be made bankrupt, reduced to cleaning pig swill, and his luxurious mansion will go under the hammer. What a fall!

Application

The first time we really understand God’s message, it pierces our hearts. We have been given tremendous privileges, power, gifts, and capacities, and we ignore God and live as if he was not there. We produce nothing for him from our lives. How sinful, how rebellious we are! God searches our hearts and makes us feel our wretched sinfulness. We begin to see something of the size of our debt to God, and the little bit we see, fills us with horror, because we know it is quite impossible to pay. But we realise that this debt must be settled, and that God cannot leave it outstanding. He is the God of holiness and the God of perfect justice, and when we first encounter God in our hearts it is this that we are chiefly aware of. Preachers preach the grace of God, but to prepare the heart to realistically grasp their need of grace, they must preach the law first. God says to us, ‘I will reduce you to the level of a menial slave. No sin will be overlooked.’ We must pay with all if we are not forgiven, and that payment will cost us our eternal souls.

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Matthew 18:25 Commentary and Bible Study