Forgiveness

18. February 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

Our text for today is as follows:

Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 ”Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 ”The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 ”But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 ”His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 ”But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 ”Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 ”This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Today’s text flows out of our lesson on yesterday.   After Jesus gives the steps for reconciliation, Peter asks him how many times we shall forgive our brother if he sins against you.  Peter says should it be seven times?  Jesus says not seven times but seventy-seven times.    The seventy-seven times was not intended that we should keep count of forgiveness and stop at the seventy-seventh time, but it is a reference actually to  unlimited times.  As many times as people sincerely come to you and ask for forgiveness for a wrong that they have done then we are to forgive them.   Please note this does no way imply that we are to let people make fools of us but if a person has wronged you and they sincerely come to you for forgiveness then we are to forgive. 

Jesus then uses a parable to express this concept of unlimited forgiveness.   He tells the story of a servant that owed his master a lot of money and he could not pay and the master ordered that his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.  The servant begged his master and his master had pity and forgave the debt.   This same servant went out and tried to collect a small amount of money from one of his debtors and refused to show him mercy but put him in prison until the debt was paid off.   The people were angry and went and told the master and he rebuked him and said he should have had the same compassion on the man as he rendered unto him and he tortured and jailed him until he could pay off the debt.

 Jesus goes on to say that this is the attitude that God will have towards us if we do not forgive.   If we don’t forgive then God will not forgive us.   I’m sorry; there is no cleaning this up or making it sound nicer, the bottom line is un-forgiveness towards your brother or sister results in not being forgiven by God.   

I don’t know about you but there is no one in this world that I want to hold on to not forgiving and risk not being forgiven by God.   Just as we are constantly approaching and needing forgiveness from God and God continues to forgive then we are to show that same compassion to people who seek forgiveness from us. 

I personally try to live in forgiveness.  If I offend someone, then I go to them to get it straight.  If someone offends me then I go to them and tell them I was offended so that there will not be a strain on the relationship and we can keep moving forward.    Sometimes it is a major struggle to drop your pride and tell someone you’re sorry and or to accept someone’s apology when they have really hurt you.   Un-Forgiveness carries with it too much power which is detrimental both spiritually and physically.  It’s just not worth it.

 Just stop and think today.  Is there someone in your life that has offended you?  You may feel that they need to come to you since it was them that did the wrong.   NO!!   The scriptures say that you are to go to them and show them their offense in hopes of reconciliation.      Have you offended someone and your pride just want let you say I’m sorry, please forgive me!      NOW is a great time as any to get it right.   The bible says that when we stand praying we are to forgive….   Our prayers are even hindered if we are harboring un-forgiveness in our heart. 

I told you that we would address the “binding” and “loosing” issue today.  Remember, this was written in the context of forgiving one another.   With that in mind, Jesus said whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever you loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven.   If you bind up forgiveness because you refuse to forgive others then you have bound it up from being released from heaven to you.  If you loose forgiveness to those on this earth then you have also freed it up in heaven that it can be loosed to you.

 So let’s just DO THE RIGHT THING!!!!!!! 

 Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!! 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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