Binding and Loosing

Jesus clearly expressed His desire for His followers to dwell in unity together, choosing to forgive one another even as God forgave them.  In Matthew 18 Jesus explained that offences will occur and how to biblically resolve them.  Out of love for God and one another we are to approach those who have wronged us one-to-one and privately resolve the matter.  If the offender does not recognise his error or sin, escalating measures should be employed ultimately resulting in the removal of the unrepentant person from fellowship.  Even if this were to happen, the victim of the wrong ought to forgive the offender.

Then Jesus said something which by itself would be open to broad interpretation, but in context with the following parable is most enlightening.  He said in Matthew 18:18, "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."  When I used to hear of "binding" or "loosing" my initial thought concerned teaching on spiritual warfare and the authority of believers.  However, the immediate context reveals this binding and loosing has to do with forgiveness.  Whilst God has given those who comprise the church of Jesus Christ authority to excommunicate and to graciously accept those who repent back into the fellowship, the aim of this post is to show the personal implications of unforgiveness.  It is fine to tout the authority of the church, but the parable Jesus followed up with shows the intense toll unforgiveness requires from us.  When we refuse to forgive or loose others completely from guilt we only bind ourselves.  Peter asked a personal question, and Jesus would have us receive His instruction personally as well.

Matthew 18:21-35 reads, "Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" ²² Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. ²³ Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. ²⁶ The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' ²⁷ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. ²⁸ But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' ²⁹ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' ³⁰ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. ³¹ So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. ³² Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. ³³ Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' ³⁴ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. ³⁵ So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

Jesus told a story about a king whose servant owed him 10,000 talents, a ludicrous amount of money when a single Roman talent of gold weighed about 32.3 kilos or 71 pounds!  The servant fell on the mercy of the king who had compassion on him and released him - loosed him - from the debt.  This same servant, despite being forgiven such an immense debt, seized a fellow servant by the throat, refused to listen to his pleas for patience, and exercised his right to throw the poor man in prison.  Instead of loosing him, the ungrateful servant bound the one who wronged him.  When the king heard about this he was furious, sent for the ungrateful servant, promptly arrested him, and threw him into prison to be tormented until he paid all that was due.  Jesus concluded, "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

Based upon the explanation of Jesus the king in the parable is God, and the servants represent those who comprise the church - people who can and sometimes will offend one another.  How does the forgoing statement impact what Jesus concluded, that "...whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven?"  The parable illustrates Peter's position (and ours too) is primarily the one forgiven the great sum 10,000 talents, for God has forgiven our many sins which demand eternal damnation.  Should we bind others under a weight of guilt, demanding they pay us what they owe, God in heaven will see we too are bound on earth.  He is not referring to a prison with cells and bars or a masked tormentor wielding whips or instruments of torture, but He will allow the curse of sin to play out in our lives.  He will allow Satan to buffet, mock, and abuse us.  He will allow oppression, fear, and pain, removing us from a place where we can receive His love, joy, and forgiveness until WE repent for our unforgiveness.

When we remember how much we have been forgiven and the price Jesus was willing to pay for our release, how can we withhold forgiveness from others?  We may not feel like forgiving, but there is great blessing when we forgive others without demands.  When we loose others it is we who are made free by God's grace.  God has had compassion on us, removed the weight of our sin, broken our chains, and imputed to us His righteousness, having accepted us in the beloved though we are sinners.  Won't you freely share God's compassion He has freely extended to you?  Are you experiencing the freedom God has provided you today?