This week's passage is one of the most difficult passages to interpret and unfortunately has been used to great harm in the 2,000 year history of the church.

It starts with practical advice to reconciling people: the offended party goes to the offender privately to explain the issue. If no repentance, then the offended party brings one or two others to the offender. Again, if no repentance, then the issue is brought to the entire church and if there is no repentance, the offender is excommunicated from the church.

What is fascinating is that Jesus may not have been talking about excommunication. When He refers to treating the offender as a Gentile and a tax collector, this would be ironic to treat them as an outsider when Jesus was known for exactly the opposite...bringing the Gentile and tax collector into fellowship! Furthermore, in context, Jesus had just discussed the unconditional love of God in pursuing the lost sheep and after this teaching, His parable of the unforgiving servant would emphasize how forgiveness is a continual status for the believer and not just 3 attempts and then excommunication.

Let's use Jesus' life example and context to explore the possibility that the 3 attempts for forgiveness is an example of irony to teach a greater message to the disciples. Ultimately, the theme of forgiveness should run in our lives as it does in Jesus' teachings and life. When Jesus taught that He seeks and saves that which was lost we should never lose sight of His mission. Our mission is to proclaim what is already true: God's forgiveness is readily available and our forgiveness is a result of God's forgiveness in our lives. The problem with the world is it is deceived with lies. Yet, even at the end of the passage, Jesus promises He is always in the midst of restoration. Consequently, we are God's agents of reconciliation to each other and to the world that God loves.