Forgiveness

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a wonderful thing. Have you ever gotten in trouble and gotten forgiveness? When it’s a big thing, it’s like winning the lottery! It can feel so good when a debt is lifted - it’s like freedom!

Isn’t it weird, tho, how we all want forgiveness and mercy, but then again, sometimes we don’t want to give that same forgiveness and mercy to others? We want to hold on to wrongs done and we want to hold grudges and not offer forgiveness, yet we ourselves want and maybe even expect forgiveness from others? Some people even enjoy being mad at others and holding grudges!

Don’t be that way! As Christians, shouldn’t we show love and kindness rather than hate and grudges?

Matthew 25:21-35

21 Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times.

23 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 And when he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 But since he did not have the means to repay, his master commanded that he be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment be made. 26 So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ 27 And the master of that slave felt compassion, and he released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ 30 But he was unwilling, [ac]and went and threw him in prison until he would pay back what was owed. 31 So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their master all that had happened. 32 Then summoning him, his master *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ 34 And his master, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he would repay all that was owed him. 35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

1 talent is like many years wages. 33kg of gold? That’s 33,000 grams of gold! 1g is like $1,200, so 1 talent is very much, think of a few big gold bars or bags of gold coins. 10,000 talents is like a billion dollars! A staggering amount of money to be in debt for!

1 denari was like a days wages, 100 denari was like a ? years’ wages. (a miniscule fraction of the previous debt.)

We have a huge sin debt and there’s no way we can pay up for our sins!

There’s no way to pay back for our sins! It’s beyond our repayment!

As the servant did, we beg for forgiveness!

Jesus has cancelled our debt!

Transgressions and the debt by others are miniscule comparatively!

God expects us to forgive others! We MUST forgive others and have mercy on others!

So much so, then why should He forgive us?

Do you enjoy being mad or enjoy simmering or enjoy grudges? It’s wrong! Stop it! Forgive!

Are you biding your time to get back at someone for some wrong they did to you? Let it go!

God even shows you to beware if you don’t forgive! There are consequences if you forgive as God has forgiven you!

Forgive others as God has forgiven you...

Ephesians 4:32

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Matthew 6:14

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Colossians 3:13

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Mark 11:25

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Matthew 6:15

“But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”