Bible Reading
Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
[42:22]Luke 23:39-43 “One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”
[24:51]Matthew 18:21-35 “Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.’”
[29:22]Psalm 103:8-12 “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
[09:08]2 Samuel 9:1-13 “And David said, ‘Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’ Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. And they called him to David. And the king said to him, ‘Are you Ziba?’ And he said, ‘I am your servant.’ And the king said, ‘Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?’ Ziba said to the king, ‘There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.’ The king said to him, ‘Where is he?’ And Ziba said to the king, ‘He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.’ Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, ‘Mephibosheth!’ And he answered, ‘Behold, I am your servant.’ And David said, ‘Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.’ And he paid homage and said, ‘What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?’ Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, ‘All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table.’ Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said to the king, ‘According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.’ So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.”
[19:18]Deuteronomy 32:3-4 “For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.”
[05:19]Observation questions
- In Deuteronomy 32:3-4, what words describe God’s character and His ways? How do these words establish God as the standard for justice? [05:19]
- What does Psalm 103 say God does not do with His people, and how does it describe the distance He puts between them and their sins? [09:08]
- In 2 Samuel 9, what specific gifts does David give Mephibosheth, and for whose sake does David show him kindness? [20:23]
- In Matthew 18, what is the contrast between the enormous debt forgiven by the king and the smaller debt owed to the forgiven servant? [31:01]
Interpretation questions
- The criminal beside Jesus admits that he is receiving the due reward for his deeds, yet Jesus promises him paradise. How does this scene show both the seriousness of sin and the undeserved gift of salvation? [26:12]
- Why is it important that God’s mercy does not mean He calls sin harmless or ignores what is wrong? How does the cross make forgiveness possible without setting aside justice? [26:35]
- Mephibosheth comes before David expecting fear and lowliness, but he receives a place at the king’s table. What does this reveal about the difference between trying to earn acceptance and receiving grace? [20:44]
- In the parable of the unforgiving servant, why does the king take the servant’s treatment of another debtor so seriously? What does the servant’s response reveal about someone who has forgotten the mercy they received? [33:11]
Application questions
- When something feels unfair, is the first response usually to ask for justice for oneself or justice against someone else? What would it look like to trust God as the Rock whose ways are always just? [08:06]
- Guilt says, “I must still pay for this.” Shame says, “Something is wrong with me.” Pride says, “I should be able to fix this myself.” Which of these most often makes it hard to receive God’s mercy, and what truth from Psalm 103 needs to be remembered? [10:44]
- Where might an earning mindset be shaping a relationship with God—for example, believing that more prayer, service, or better behavior will make God love someone more? How can a person begin to live and serve from God’s love rather than work for it? [16:22]
- Is there a hurt that keeps replaying in the mind—a word, betrayal, rejection, or injustice? What might it look like to bring that hurt honestly to God and choose forgiveness again, even if the memory does not disappear quickly? [35:04]
- Is there someone toward whom score is being kept? What would mercy look like in that relationship while still being honest about the wrong that was done and maintaining wise boundaries where needed? [33:51]
- Micah 6:8 calls God’s people to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. Which part of that verse is most difficult right now, and what is one specific situation this week where it can be put into practice? [42:22]
- Before reacting to an offense, disagreement, or inconvenience, how might it help to ask, “Am I looking through a lens of justice alone, or through mercy and grace as well?” [46:00]
