“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?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
“’The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. One was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 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, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” Out of pity, the master released him and forgave the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, began to choke him, saying, “Pay what you owe.” His fellow servant fell down and pleaded, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?” And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.'”
“Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matthew 17:21-35; 6:12
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
Forgive: To pardon; to give up resentment of or claim to requital; to cease to feel resentment against; to grant relief from payment of; to stop blaming or being angry
It was serious business for Jesus to teach about forgiveness. By prayer, parable, instruction, and ultimately the visual aid of His crucifixion, the Savior exemplified the importance of forgiving as a vital tenet of faith. If we do not receive His forgiveness, and forgive others as He has us, we will bear the debt ourselves in death.
Sometimes our trouble with forgiveness stems from distorted vision. Those sins and offenses against us are much larger and more heinous in our sight than the things we do wrong. The longer we lick our wounds, the larger the wrongs magnify in our minds, the more we want revenge against those who caused them. We fool ourselves into being righteous in comparison. Everything grows out of proportion when we fail to gaze at the cross and apply God’s grace.
It is crucial that we understand our personal need for forgiveness for our offense against God. Any inclination of heart, words, or deeds pulsing with pride or tainted with rebel red make us debtors to the Perfect One. Have we come under His love-spent blood?
Once we’ve received the freedom He won, whom will we set free? What grudges or hatred are keeping us enslaved, and hurting those around us? As Christ, so may we also forgive. (John 8:36; Galatians 5:1)
Lord, keep me eager to forgive as You have me.
As the rain and snow 