Forgiveness

Matthew 18:21,23-28

“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?” 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 (today about 3.4 billion dollars).  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 (about 130 dollars), and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’”

Jesus’ point is obvious. God has forgiven us of a huge, unpayable debt of sin. Jesus suffered on the cross bearing our sins. The nail prints in His hands and feet are proof of our sins killing the Savior. So, to turn and not forgive someone of a wrong or of words or actions, or even of stupidity, is quite frankly wrong.

Some things are hard to forgive, but forgiveness still has to be our lasting action for offenses as Christians. How can someone who is a born-again believer fail to appreciate the debt they’ve been forgiven? 

Prayer:

Lord, You bore my sins on Your back, in Your loving hands and in Your precious feet. You showed me many years ago my forgiveness, teach me to forgive every day. In Your prayer Lord that You taught us in Matthew 6, it says, “forgive us our debts AS WE forgive our debtors.” I hear and I obey, In Your name Lord Jesus, thank you for my redemption.