Illuminate Community Church

C.S. Lewis once said, “Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive.” Isn’t it interesting that, perhaps, the two most difficult phrases to utter are: “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you.”   In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus responds to a question from Peter about the extent of forgiveness. Jesus answers with the parable of the unforgiving servant in order to illustrate the necessity of forgiveness. The parable highlights that because God has forgiven us much, we should extend forgiveness to others, even when it's difficult or seems impossible.   As we prepare to share in the Lord’s Table this Sunday, Jesus’ words are strong reminders of God’s mercy and compassion in sending His Son to the cross on our behalf, and how that can and should motivate us to handle the difficult relationships in our lives.   I’ve come to learn that God is never more like God than when He forgives, and we are never more like God than we forgive. That says two things to me. First, we can find the forgiveness we are looking for and need in Him. Secondly, we can truly open our hearts to forgiving others when we understand how much we have been forgiven.

Picture a man walking through a field, just going about his day, when suddenly his foot catches on something. Curious, he kneels down, brushes away the dirt, and his eyes widen—he's uncovered a treasure beyond his wildest imagination. It’s not like anything he has ever seen, and he immediately recognizes just how valuable it is. You would think he would grab it and run as fast as he could. He doesn’t. Instead, he buries again and rushes home and sells everything he has—his house, his possessions, every last item he owns—they’re all gone! Imagine the reaction of his family and friends. “What in the world are you doing?” they probably ask. “Why are you throwing away everything you’ve worked for, everything you have, for a measly piece of land?” His response is most likely just a smile because he knows something they don’t. To them, it looks crazy. To him, it’s the smartest decision he’s ever made. Picture a pearl wholesaler, one who has spent his entire career searching for the finest pearls in the world. He knows what makes them valuable, what sets them apart, and he is dedicated to finding the very best. One day, in the midst of searching for better and more valuable pearls, he comes across the ultimate pearl, the one that could possibly be more valuable than anything he has ever seen. You would think he would want to do whatever is necessary to add it to his inventory to serve as the pièce de résistance of his collection. Instead, he makes a shocking decision. He liquidates his inventory, and then sells all he has in order to buy that one very valuable pearl. His friends and business associates must think he is foolish… These two stories are parables that Jesus uses to tell his disciples about the nature of the kingdom of heaven.

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

6/08/25 - Stewardship of a Talent - Matthew 25:14-30 - Pastor Darryl DelHousaye

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager is a perplexing one. Why is a clever defrauder commended for his shrewdness? How is this dishonest manager’s swift economic redistribution used to teach Jesus’ audience about kinship, faithfulness, and honesty? By using a real-world example, Jesus teaches his listeners about the right use of wealth and business forethought. This parable has more to do with preparing for the future than it does deception. In this passage, Jesus uses a dishonest manager who was likely a slave or freedman, desperate to keep his job, to display the commemorability of acting boldly to secure his financial future. Jesus often draws lessons from sinful or lowly men to create contrast with the prideful elite, and in Luke 16:1–13, we learn from a dishonest manager about the glory of foresight and diligence. This Sunday, we will learn from Phoenix Seminary President, Dr. David Hogg, about how we as Christians can model such an attitude in our own faith journey. The dishonest manager’s decisive action in this parable is praiseworthy and points to how Christians ought to be regarding eternal matters.