423. Tuesday after Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity.
O God, be merciful to us;
increase our faith, and give us
the true brotherly spirit. Amen.
Matthew 18, 15-22. Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.
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This lesson shows with clearness that Christ is in his disciples, and that his church on earth is one with his church in heaven; exclusion from one is exclusion from the other. He who does not repent and receive mercy, and live in the fellowship of the Lord and his saints on earth, has no part in the bliss of heaven. — In the next place our text wonderfully strengthens our faith in the efficacy of united prayer. If the Spirit move two of us to go before our heavenly Father with the same petition, we never fail to receive that which we ask. Let Christian fathers and mothers bear this in mind, and pray together for their children; and the children for their parents. Likewise when two or more persons are of the same profession; or neighbors; or, in short, Christians having a common interest; when they have the same thing at heart; let them speak of it with one another, and agree as touching any thing that they shall ask, and lay before the Father this promise given by the Son.
Above all things, however, our text teaches us: Firstly, that we are to care for one another; and, secondly, that we must never tire of forgiving them that sin against us. When your brother sins against you, it is your duty to deliver him from the snare of the devil. It is not enough that you bear the wrong with meekness; you must do what in you lies to restore him to the right path. If you think of yourself only, and let the other go his own way, you say with Cain: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” and you act in a spirit directly contrary to that of Jesus, who in love reproved even Judas and Pilate with a view to their good. Let it be your heart’s desire to gain your brother; induce others to join you in praying for him. These two things belong together. — And you shall forgive your brother, no matter how often he may have sinned against you. As the heart of God is an ever living well which flows forgiveness for his children, even so shall your heart be toward the brethren. These words of Christ about forgiving “not seven times, but seventy times seven,” how strikingly expressive of the truth that the kingdom of Christ is a kingdom of sinners, and rich in mercy! You need your brother’s forgiveness as often as he needs yours; and how much more often do not both of you, then, need the forgiveness of God! Where, now, may we sinners come into possession of the necessary charity? We must beseech the Lord to increase our faith. Lead us, O Lord, into a thorough understanding of thy infinite mercy. Amen.*
One there is above all others,
Well deserves the name of friend.
His is love beyond a brother’s,
Costly, free, and knows no end.
They who once his kindness prove,
Find it everlasting love.
O for grace our hearts to soften!
Teach us, Lord, at length to love.
We, alas! forget too often
What a friend we have above:
But when home our souls are brought,
We will love thee as we ought.
[suggested tune: (TLH 549); listen here]
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.