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Matthew 18:21-35
 | Reading the Text:
|
| Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
 | The
Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto. |
| "Forgiveness
and Reconciliation," Comparative World Scriptures from United
Communities of Spirit. |
| Comparative primary texts about Sin and Justice from Mishna and
Babylonian Talmud. At Mahlon H. Smith's Into
His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus, Rutgers University. |
| Vision
II.2, Similitude
IX.23, Shepherd of Hermas. (c.145) |
| XXVII.1-13, 22-23;
Tatian's Diatessaron
(c. 150-160). |
| Chapter
VII, On Prayer, Tertullian
(c. 199) |
| I.1, Stromata,
Clement of Alexandria (c 200) |
| Chapter XII,
On Patience, Tertullian (c.
202) |
| Chapter
XXI, On Modesty, Tertullian
(c. 217) |
| XIV.5-13,
Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247) |
| Epistle XXX
(from the Roman Clergy to Cyprian) -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250) |
| On the
Lord's Prayer -- Cyprian
of Carthage (c. 252) |
| Latin text of Augustine's Sermon 73 (Mt 18:21-35). |
|
Homily LXI
- Matthew 18:21, Homilies on the Gospel of St. Matthew, St. Chrysostom (c.
380): |
| From the
Catena
Aurea, Patristic Commentary by St Thomas Aquinas. |
| From the Geneva Notes.
 | "They will find God severe and not
too pleased, who do not forgive their brethren even if they have been purposely and
grievously injured by them." |
|
| From
Matthew
Henry's Commentary.
| "How justly will those be condemned, who, though they bear the Christian
name, persist in unmerciful treatment of their brethren!" |
|
| From Wesley's
Notes.
| "Till seventy times seven - That is, as often as there is
occasion. A certain number is put for an uncertain." |
|
| From the Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
| "...till seven times?--This being the sacred and complete number,
perhaps his meaning was, Is there to be a limit at which the needful forbearance will be full?" |
|
| From The People's
New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
| "Observe Christ says, "My heavenly Father," not your. God
will not be their heavenly Father unless they emulate his spirit of mercy, and are as
ready to forgive others their trespasses as he is to forgive their own." |
|
|
| Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
|
Comments
(commentary) and
Clippings
(technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican
Diocese of Montreal. |
|
"Forgiveness: Seven Times Seventy," Gospel Analysis, Sermons from
Seattle,
Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle,
Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
| "This
teaching directly reverses the revenge of Lamech in the Old Testament
who wanted revenge seventy times seven." |
|
|
"First
Thoughts on Year A Gospel Passages in the Lectionary:
Pentecost 17"
William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia, 2002.
| "The reduction of the gospel to
forgiveness of sins misses the point of the gospel which is about making people
whole." |
|
|
Matthew in the Margins, by
Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia. |
|
"Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: Matthew 18:21-35," Transformed
for Disciple Community: Matthew in Pentecost, James L. Boyce,
Word & World: Theology for
Christian Ministry, Luther Northwestern Theological School, 1993. |
|
"Matthew 18:21-35, Pentecost 17," Perspectives on the Parables --
Glimpses on the Kingdom of God, Robert H. Albers,
Word & World: Theology for
Christian Ministry, Luther Northwestern Theological School, 1984. |
|
"Power and Forgiveness in Matthew 18,"
Elaine Ramshaw, Word & World: Theology for Christian Ministry,
Volume XVIII, Number 4, Luther Northwestern Theological School, 1998.
| "A piecemeal and acontextual use of
the texts on forgiveness and reconciliation in Matthew 18 can lead to
the exclusion of some and the abuse of others. The chapter as a whole
envisions a better way." |
|
|
Exegetical Notes
by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
|
"Does repentance need to precede
forgiveness?" |
|
|
"Violent Parables and the Nonviolent Jesus," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at)
"Parables," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian
Ethics at Baylor University, 2006. |
|
"Continual
Forgiveness," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic
Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's Story, Family
Activity, Support Materials.
|
"Is there someone in your life
who is difficult to forgive?" |
|
|
Exegesis,
Proper 19A, by
Richard Donovan at lectionary.org.
| "The common element in these portions
of this chapter is that they call us to throw away the calculator when
dealing with relationships." |
|
|
"Released Him and Forgave Him,"
Jerry Goebel, One
Family Outreach. "Focus on scripture from a justice perspective." Exegesis, study, and teen study
and activities.
| "Even if the forgiveness is for a sin
that is large by human standards; it is infinitesimal in comparison to
the compassion of our Savior. We do not compare another sin against our
own accounts; we compare to God’s compassion. We do not say; 'Look at
what you owe me!' We say; 'Look at how much God forgave me!'" |
|
|
"New Math," Gracia Grindal, Christian Century, 2002.
| "I know that Jesus is right to say that without
forgiveness the Christian community cannot flourish. But with our
psychologizing of guilt and shame this past century, we've gotten so
messed up on what forgiveness is that I find it difficult to sort this
story out." |
|
|
Wellspring of
the Gospel, Ordinary 24A, Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn
Turner, Weekly Wellsprings. |
|
"A 'Political'
Interpretation of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matt 18:23-35),"
Roberta C. Allen.
| "The huge variation in the sums involved may have
been intended to illustrate the unbreachable gulf between 'sin' and
human 'debt or crime'. Speech about God or his 'kingdom' is metaphorical
and while use of human terms may help to explain our understanding the
analogies always necessarily fall short." |
|
|
"The
Parable of the Unforgiving Servant," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible
Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed
textual notes. |
|
"Forgiven
and Forgiving," Susan Pendelton Jones. Commentary from The
Christian Century, August, 1999. At Religion Online.
| "Christian communities are
sustained by people who know what it means to discover the miracle
of God's forgiveness, and who are thus committed to a way of life as
forgiven and forgiving people. We do not abandon others, and refuse
to be abandoned ourselves." |
|
|
"Unlimited
Forgiveness," analysis by Cathy Lessmann in Sabbatheology by the
Crossings
Community of St Louis, Missouri.
| "The impact of a changed heart is stunning. Not only are we able to cease
keeping track of the number of times we forgive our brother or sister -- we don't even
realize we are doing it!" |
|
|
"The
Parable of the Unmerciful Servant," analysis and reflection by Ed Schroeder, in
Sabbatheology
by The Crossing Community of St Louis, Missouri.
| "Peter's question = Our question: Aren't there limits to forgiveness?
Wouldn't seven times in a row be enough, before you responded to that congenital sinning
sibling with some hard knocks of the recompense and retribution? Can you really practice
"management by mercy" in daily life and survive?" |
|
|
| Articles & Background:
|
"Parable of the
Unmerciful Servant," wikipedia. |
|
"Matthew's Nonviolent Jesus and Violent Parables," Barbara E. Reid,
O.P., (other resources at)
"Parables," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian
Ethics at Baylor University, 2006.
| "Jesus' Sermon on the Mount instructs us to not
return violence for violence; instead we should be like God, who
offers boundless, gratuitous love to all. But in the same Gospel
Jesus tells eight parables in which God deals violently with
evildoers. Which of the divine ways are we to imitate?" |
|
|
"The
Force of Forgiveness," Minka Shura
Sprague at The Living Pulpit.
| "We have known since Noah that
forgiveness is God's will." |
|
|
"Jesus,
Apocalyptic, and World Transformation," David B. Batstone. Theology
Today, 1993.
| "It is often overlooked how
ideologically explosive the notion of the kingdom of God was within
Jesus' own social milieu. In first-century Palestine, it did not
have the same metaphorical and strictly religious connotation that
makes the term so safe within our own theological world. In fact, it
evoked the memory and visionary impulse of Yahweh who acts to
deliver Yahweh's 'chosen ones' from occupation and oppression at the
hands of alien nations. Intrinsic to that symbolic universe is the
conviction that the chosen suffer and the unjust prosper in the
present day only because history stands at the brink of a great
reversal." |
|
|
"Divine
Incongruity: Comedy and Tragedy in a Post-Holocaust World,"
A. Roy Eckardt, Lehigh University.
| "How may God receive
the 'dangerous thoughts' of those intercessors who serve the comic
cause? I propose that, ultimately speaking, forgiveness may win the
day. The aggression against God--or the counteraggression-in
response to the divine aggression is, itself, eligible for
forgiveness. Yet, I also submit that, in the final reckoning,
forgiveness is never a purely human achievement, it is a gift from
beyond. Thus, may forgiveness enter the dialectic of humor and
faith, pointing to the beginnings of reconciliation among all
parties. For, in the depths of authentic humor, everyone stands
forgiven. That's what humor comes down to really: forgiveness.
" |
|
|
"The
Craft of Forgiveness," L. Gregory Jones,
Loyola College. Theology Today, October, 1993.
| "If, and insofar as,
Christians are able to recognize that forgiveness is a way of life
rather than a simple word to assuage guilt, then we will be on our
way to embodying the wholeness of the gospel through mastering the
craft of forgiveness." |
|
|
"Repentance
and Forgiveness," David R. Blumenthal, Cross Currents.
| "Teshuvá is the key concept in the rabbinic view of sin,
repentance, and forgiveness. The tradition is not of one mind on the steps one must take
to repent of one's sins. However, almost all agree that repentance requires five elements:
recognition of one's sins as sins (hakarát ha-chét'), remorse (charatá),
desisting from sin (azivát ha-chét'), restitution where possible (peira'ón),
and confession (vidúi)." |
|
|
"Prayer and Forgiveness: Can Psychology Help?" Kevin Culligan,
Spiritual Life, 2002.
| "Despite Jesus' teaching, many
Christians committed to living a prayerful life-including persons who
daily practice various forms of contemplative prayer, such as Christian
meditation, centering prayer, and Christian insight meditation-choose to
remain in a state of unforgiveness." |
|
|
"Father, Forgive... - Religious Meaning of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings,"
Kosuke Koyama, The Ecumenical Review, 1995.
| "God's eagerness
to forgive derives from God's love." |
|
|
| Articles in
ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are
subscribed and logged in to
ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
| Binau, Brad A., "'Holding On' and
'Letting Go': the Dynamics of Forgiveness," Word & World, 2007.
(See Word & World 27.1
Forgiveness)
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Bridges, Linda McKinnish, "Preaching
the Parables in Matthew's Gospel in Ordinary Time: The Extraordinary
Tales of God's World," Review & Expositor, 2007. (Section on this
text begins on p.346, but is best read in context of entire article.)
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Carter, Warren,
"Resisting and Imitating the Empire: Imperial Paradigms in Two Matthean
Parables," Interpretation, 2002. (See also,
"Parables," issue focus of Interpretation 56.3 (2002).) |
| Gustafson, Roger R.,
"Covenants Strained and Strengthened," The Living Pulpit, 2005. |
| Hock, Ronald F.,
"Romancing the Parables of Jesus," Perspectives in Religious Studies,
2002. |
| Hylen, Susan E.
"Forgiveness and Life in Community," Interpretation, 2000. |
| Reid, Barbara E., O.P.,
"Violent Endings in Matthew's Parables and Christian Nonviolence,"
The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2004. |
| Stortz, Martha E., "The Practice of
Forgiveness: Disciples as Forgiven Forgivers," Word & World,
2007. (See Word & World 27.1
Forgiveness)
Image Browse -
PDF |
|
| Reviews: |
| Sermons:
|
"Down the Up
Staircase," Eugene Lowry, at preaching.org. (scroll down) |
|
"What to Do
When You're Messed Over," Brad Braxton,
30 Good
Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2007. |
|
"Forgiveness: Seven Times Seventy" (trialogue sermon),
"Forgiveness Is for Heroes,"
"Pockets of Poison: The Need for Forgiveness,"
Sermons from Seattle,
Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle,
Washington. |
|
"Letting the Ending Surprise You,"
17 Pentecost - 11 September 2005, David Zersen, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the
RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors. |
|
"When the Theology of Mercy Turns into Ethics," George H. Martin, The
Clergy Journal, 2005. |
|
"The Unforgiving Servant," narrative sermon by Richard J. Fairchild,
Sermon & Lectionary Resources. |
|
"The Things We
Dare Not Remember," the Rev. Dr. Thomas Tewell, 30 Good Minutes,
Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2003. |
|
"On Not Keeping
Score," The Rev. Joanna Adams,
30 Good
Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2002. |
|
"The Way of
Forgiveness,"
Fr. Patrick Brennan,
30 Good Minutes,
Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2002. |
|
"Forgiveness:
'Giving Is Harder than Receiving'!" John Jewell, 1999. |
|
"The Freeing of
Forgiveness," the Rev. Dr. Robert M. Zanicky, Day 1, 2001. |
|
"The Justice of
Forgiveness," the Rev. Dr. Kathlyn James, Day 1, 1997. |
|
"Unforgiven," the
Rev. Alex Joiner, Day 1, 1996. |
|
Father
Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and Homily:
|
|
| With Children:
|
| Drama:
|
"Seventy Times Seven," from A Certain Jesus by
Jose Ignacio and Maria Lopez Vigil. Ideal for catechetical and liturgical
dramatization of today's gospel. Claretian Publications. |
|
"Forgiving 70 x 7," Penny Hewlett, Drama Southwest. |
|
"Forgiveness," Janelle S. Ponte, dramatix. |
|
"Phar-A-Non," Glenn A. Hascall, dramatix. |
|
"Parable of the Merciless Teacher," Greg Brook, dramatix. |
|
"Mowing Down
Cats!" Michelle Pitman, dramatix. |
|
"The
Case of the Missing Case," Paul Clark, dramatix. |
|
"Forgiveness - Dwarf Style," Dean Herring, dramatix. |
|
| Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
|
Clip Art, Matthew 18:22, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators. |
| Clip Art Images:
Matthew 18:21-35, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú. |
|
Matthew 18:21-35,
Matthew 18:21-35, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora,
Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use
these for free.") |
|
Forgiveness Limit,
Mathematics of Forgiveness,
Eat Your
Meal,
Part of the Job, Reverend Fun Cartoon, gospelcom.net. Check for
printing permissions at right-hand side of destination page. |
|
Matthew 18:21-35,
Scripture Pics - graphics
relating to RCL texts, Matt Baker, Germantown UMC, Ohio. |
|
| Hymns and Music:
|
| Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's
Art Index: |
| Movies scenes with the following themes,
listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
|
|
Study Links and Resources for the Book of Matthew |
|
