Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matthew 18: 21-22
How much time do you think about yourself getting hurt by others? Have you changed the way you do life because of hurt from others?
To be honest I have put walls up around myself when it comes to relationships, especially with a certain group of females. I am constantly doing the self-talk telling myself not to give others a chance because of another person. It’s not fair to that person and you might be missing out on a great friendship. I am glad that I listen to myself on this. Since that one bad friendship, I have found some very solid, encouraging, and great friendships. God has truly blessed me. However, my not building walls for me isn’t about not being able to forgive others. It was simply not wanting to get hurt. I needed to remember that people are going to fail and hurt me. It’s not going to be always intentional. In fact, it seldom is intentional that people hurt others. They usually don’t even realize that they have hurt you. Yes, there are those who will hurt intentionally also. The bottom line though is no matter how many times they hurt us, we have to keep on forgiving them over and over and over again.
Let’s read Matthew 18:23-35. 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. 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 and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, “Pay what you owe.” So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded within, “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 they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him. “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.
How much money did the servant owe his master? What was the likelihood of the servant paying back his debt?
What motivated the master’s forgiving response?
The servant’s massive debt had been canceled. What possible reason did he have to be so ruthless and cruel in trying to collect from his fellow servant?
Why did you respond in this way after receiving mercy and forgiveness from his debt?
What is Jesus trying to say in this parable?
Have you treated someone who had wronged you similar to the way this forgiven servant treated his debtor?
In verse 33, “Should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?” has the answer. If we are forgiven then we have to forgive others. We as Christians have to remember we once carried a debt of sin that we could not have paid for. We need to remember God justly could have sold us into eternal slavery and anguish. However, God freely gave us a full pardon, sacrificing His own son in order to pay our debt. God showed mercy, therefore we have to/need to/should show mercy to others. Even though it can be hard, we can do all things through Jesus Christ. This is what we have to remember as children of God. In Christ, we have the power to be obedient to His commands.
We can not avoid being hurt or wronged by others. It will happen. knowing this, we cannot avoid forgiving them. Even when you are not in the wrong, there will be times when you will still need to forgive them for what they are accusing you of. Whatever the hurt or wrong is don’t harbor bitterness and resentment. Take it to prayer, it is a little more than wasted time and effort. In fact, its the only way it is going to help you to forgive.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your forgiveness. thank you that instead of us having to pay our debt, you showed us mercy and grace and forgiveness; all because of your unending love for us. I pray that we will show these kinds of actions to all of those around us. That we will be thoughtful of the bigger picture then our inward feelings.
In Jesus Name
Amen
