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THE BIBLE STUDY – October 27, 2026 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto -- A Confessional Lutheran Church Our readings this Tuesday from the daily lectionary are Deuteronomy 29:1-28 and Matthew 18:21-35. Moses warns Israel: “Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from the LORD our God... Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit” (Deut. 29:18). Israel's greatest danger was not an external enemy, but an unbelieving heart that turned away from the living God. Such apostasy begins inwardly before it appears outwardly. The same warning remains urgent today. Many abandon the Christian faith for the spiritual fashions of the age. Some are drawn to pagan religions, others to false New Age spirituality, occult practices, witchcraft, or attempts to gain spiritual knowledge apart from God's Word. Scripture consistently teaches that these paths do not lead to enlightenment, but away from the Lord who alone gives life and salvation. What begins as curiosity can become a bitter root that chokes faith and bears poisonous fruit. Yet Moses' warning is also a call to repentance. The Lord desires that sinners return to Him. Through His Word and Sacraments found in the true Church, He preserves His people from wandering and continually calls the erring back to Himself. In our Gospel text, Peter asks how often he should forgive. Jesus responds with the parable of the unforgiving servant. The point is not that Christians achieve perfect forgiveness toward others. Our forgiveness is often weak, incomplete, and hindered by our sinful flesh. Like the servant, we struggle with resentment, pride, and self-justification. Therefore, our confidence cannot rest in the quality of our forgiveness, but in Christ's forgiveness of us. The King in the parable cancels an unpayable debt, pointing us to the immeasurable debt of sin forgiven through the death and resurrection of Jesus. On the cross, Christ purchased and won forgiveness once and for all. Because His forgiveness is complete, our standing before God is secure through faith in Him. Martin Luther captured this in the Large Catechism: "And let no one think that as long as we live here, he can reach such a position that he will not need such forgiveness. In short, if God does not forgive without ceasing, we are lost." (Luther, Large Catechism, Commentary on the Fifth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer) This is the Christian life: daily repentance, daily forgiveness, and daily faith in Christ. Having received such mercy, we are then freed to forgive our neighbor, imperfectly yet sincerely, as those who have first been forgiven much. Prayer: Merciful Father, keep us from every false religion, occult deception, and wandering from Your holy Word. Grant us steadfast faith in Christ, whose perfect sacrifice has won the full forgiveness of all our sins. Having received Your mercy, help us also to forgive others with humble and thankful hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Our Hymn for the Day from Lutheran Service Book is LSB 655, “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8ViZi7M5p4&list=RDS8ViZi7M5p4&start_radio=1