Imperative: Mat 18:21-35 ” … As many as seven times?” (No imperative spoken by Jesus)
Context: Mat 18:21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Mat 18:22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
Mat 18:23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
Mat 18:24 When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents;
Mat 18:25 and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Mat 18:26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’
Mat 18:27 And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
Mat 18:28 But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’
Mat 18:29 So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’
Mat 18:30 He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt.
Mat 18:31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.
Mat 18:32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me;
Mat 18:33 and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’
Mat 18:34 And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt.
Mat 18:35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Mat 18:22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
Mat 18:23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
Mat 18:24 When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents;
Mat 18:25 and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Mat 18:26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’
Mat 18:27 And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
Mat 18:28 But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’
Mat 18:29 So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’
Mat 18:30 He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt.
Mat 18:31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.
Mat 18:32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me;
Mat 18:33 and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’
Mat 18:34 And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt.
Mat 18:35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
GREEK VERBS: (No imperative)
Exegesis:
No imperative, but command intent:
Mat 18:35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
S.O.W. QUESTIONS
S. What does it say?
O. What does it say that I need to obey?
W. Who needs to hear this? Generally? Specifically?
DISCERNMENT QUESTIONS
What gets your attention?
What human needs or problems relate to the text?
What is it like to have that problem?
What other resources connect to this idea?
What is the solution suggested in the text, if there is one?
What would a camera see if the solution was implemented in my life, in my family’s life, or in my church or community?
What are the steps that I would take on Monday to implement that solution?
CONTEXTUALIZING QUESTIONS
What does this say to my context as a …
…. person?
… follower of Jesus?
… to a church?
… to a community – my neighbors?
RESOURCES
What are the commands of Jesus Christ which we need to obey? In disciple-making, Jesus commanded the following in Matthew 28:20: “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…” What are the commands that we are to follow and teach others as identified by Jesus’ use of the imperative mood in the Greek?
This is an anchor post, the purpose of which is to begin a conversation. Please add value by sharing stories, personal experiences, quotes (with sources) and questions for discussion in the comments. (Some comments may be incorporated into the original post.)
Footnotes:
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
What are the commands of Jesus Christ which we need to obey? In disciple-making, Jesus commanded the following in Matthew 28:20: “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…” What are the commands that we are to follow and teach others as identified by Jesus’ use of the imperative mood in the Greek?
This is an anchor post, the purpose of which is to begin a conversation. Please add value by sharing stories, personal experiences, quotes (with sources) and questions for discussion in the comments. (Some comments may be incorporated into the original post.)
Footnotes:
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
All Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
A sermon was preached on this command:
Date … Audio Link … Slides Link.
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