"Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"1
The kingdom of heaven is like a king who went to settle accounts... one man owed him a $100,000 he fell on his knees and begged him for mercy. The king took pity and forgave the debt, but this same man forgiven such a debt turned around and had someone who begged him for mercy over $10, arrested and put in jail. The king heard of this, and was angry so the servant was brought before the king, "Shouldn’t you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?" The king who was angry, sent him to the jailers, as he had done to the man who owed him little."So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
Could it be, that we do not forgive others because we despise the riches of His kindness? "You who judge others and do the same, you are without excuse, do you think you can escape the judgement of God?... Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"2 Yes, the kingdom of heaven is of Grace, but you who were forgiven so much do you then turn to judge others?
Could it be that we judge others because we despise His forbearance and long-suffering towards us? I think so. "Do not judge so that you will not be judged," Jesus said, "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you."3 If we understand the debt that was paid for us then why do we judge others who have done so little? we do not understand the riches of His kindness. I believe the understanding of Grace is in understanding the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and long-suffering he has toward us. Those who understand such, give much in return.
The woman who cried and wiped her tears on the feet of Jesus, she had been forgiven much and in return, loved much. This evil servenat had been forgiven much but brought judgement against someone who owed him a lesser debt. Understanding the riches of His kindness doesn't come easy, it is a process. Paul had been given a thorn in his side, please take it away he cried three times. God's response, "My Grace is sufficient for you." We hear often of miraculous deliverance from sin, but some of these people become the biggest judge of sin, and the very same sin they were forgiven of, why? could it be they do not understand the Riches of His Kindness? the riches of the kingdom of God, in our weakness we learn such.
"Therefore, no longer one another should we judge but this rather determine not to put a stumbling block or snare before your brother."4
When we judge little children in faith the Bible says we can put a stumbling block before them. If we do not understand the riches of His kindness, we will. We need to be determined not to be a stumbling block, but edification to the body. It is a great principle of the kingdom of God, to love one another, to not hurt the faith of others. "Little children" we do not cause to stumble. These little children in faith we sit up front in the church, these little children of faith we exalt, these little children of faith we determine not to put a stumbling block or snare before. There is a warning if we do so.
"Whoever shall cause to stumble one of these little ones, of these believing in me, it is better for him that a millstone should be hung around his neck and he be sunk in the depth of the sea."5
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."6 Whoever humbles himself as a little child is great in the kingdom of heaven, yes, whoever welcomes one such "little child" in the name of Jesus welcomes Him.7 The way of the world is that the "little guy" or the low end of the totem pole so to say, is the one who usually gets mistreated, blamed... but in the kingdom of God it is the opposite, the "little children" are to be exalted. It is the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and long-suffering, that we come to know and understand, such kindness of God, that leads men to repentance.
Won't You Be My Love