Longer study: The unmerciful servant- an ugly steward

An ugly steward: in the shadow of the parable of an unmerciful servant, Lamech

‘Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother

or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

[Matthew 18:21-22]

Peter is a generous guy. He goes beyond the usual practice of forgiving an offending

brother or sister up to three times. Peter offers Jesus seven. But, as we see so often with

Peter, he’s wrong. Jesus responds with what is practically an infinite number, seventy-

seven - and drops us a hint that goes all the way back to the story of Lamech, the

descendant of Cain.

In Genesis 4, Lamech tells his wives:

“I have killed a man for wounding me,

a young man for injuring me.

If Cain is avenged seven times,

then Lamech seventy-seven times.”

[v. 23-24]

Lamech is the great-great grandson of Cain, the first murderer. He follows in his

ancestor’s steps by also murdering, but why does Jesus seem to agree with him? Jesus

takes Lamech’s use of the number seventy-seven - which indicates a seemingly

insatiable lust for revenge - and turns it on its head; forgiveness should be never-ending.

Jesus wants Peter to learn the value of heart-felt forgiveness, and by nodding towards

Lamech, he put in Peter’s mind the importance of this lesson. Lamech and his l ine, so

we are told, were all destroyed in the great flood.

But there was another Lamech, a cousin, a descendant of Seth. Same name, different

person. Seth was the child borne in hope to Adam and Eve after their son Abel’s

murder. This Lamech had a son whose name was Noah. He chose the name because

at Noah’s birth, Lamech prophecies that little baby Noah would indeed be a “comfort”.

(Genesis 5:29) Noah saved his line and all of mankind by faithfully building an Ark.

Noah becomes part of the story of infinite mercy and forgiveness. He foreshadows

salvation.

There is no comfort to be found in hate, murder and vengeance. There is only ugliness

and the unforgiven. There is no life, no future to be found in being like Cain’s

descendant Lamech, only infinite death.

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