Forgiveness

Then Jesus responds, not Seven times, but seventy times seven!

We could try to keep track of the times we forgive someone up to 490 times, but if we did that we would be missing the point.

Lets keep reading and find out just what that point is…

The parable on Forgiveness in Matthew 18:23-35

A Servant Forgiven

Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. (*Thousands of lifetimes worth of debt) But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.

The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the debt.

The servant’s mistake

So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’

[But] He would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.

The servant’s consequences of His mistake

Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

Jesus’ response to his disciples regarding forgiveness: 

“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

Forgiving others

Wow. Heavy words right there at the end!!!

In Peter’s mind, His idea of forgiving others was generous. But Jesus’ answer makes him quickly realize His generosity didn’t compare to God’s. Think about it… if we were told the rule is: we only had to forgive a man 3 times, I’m sure there aren’t many who would be willing to double that number and plus one. Peter had it in his heart to do even more than what was required of him. And It still didn’t come close to what God expects of us.  

The man in the parable was forgiven thousands of lifetimes worth of debt, and wasn’t willing to forgive a man who owed him 100 days of debt. When we read it we can plainly see how wrong it is. But when we do the same things, it doesn’t look so wrong, does it…

This is exactly the point of the parable. Jesus shows us plainly how God feels about us forgiving others.

Jesus expects us to forgive as we have been forgiven

It is expected that we forgive everyone who sins against us. Up to the amount that we have been forgiven by God.

Since every sin we commit is committed against God, all who are forgiven by Him are forgiven for every sin. As well as every wrong and wicked choice we ever do over the course of our lifetimes.

No one will ever sin against us anywhere near the amount we have sinned against God.

He essentially says If God forgave our debts (a lifetime of sin), how can we hold a debt (one or two instances of wrong) against another?

Gods power to help us forgive

Those who want to forgive but are struggling to do so, don’t feel burdened. This is not held against you. We are not perfect, but we can demonstrate our willingness to obey His Words. We can start by understanding God has forgiven us for far more than we will ever need to forgive in others.

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