Forgiving and being forgiven

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?"  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."  Matthew 18:21-22

These verses set the stage for how Jesus wants his followers to handle forgiving those who commit sins against other people.  Peter thought forgiving up to seven times seemed rather generous, but Jesus told him that wasn't enough.  Seventy times seven or seventy seven times, signifying there should be no limit to our forgiveness toward others, is the standard by which we should live. 

But Jesus continues on the subject by telling a story. It's recorded immediately following the verses printed above:   “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him.  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. At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.  He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’  But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.  When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.  Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

I hope you take the time to read that somewhat lengthy passage. It will help you to understand three things that stand out as very important in dealing with our forgiveness toward others. 

1.  It's unlimited.   We are familiar with phrases such as, "Burn me once, your fault; burn me twice, my fault."  It has become the basis of our placing blame and extending forgiveness toward others. Jesus says we should continue to forgive an unlimited number of times. He gets that from his Father, who continues over and over forgiving us. That should establish how we should forgive. 

2. We cannot repay our debt to God.  We know the sacrifice of Jesus was made because we could not pay for our own sins. In forgiving others we need to remember that. Irreparable harm may have been done to you that can never be corrected, nonetheless, Jesus is our example in forgiving us under those same circumstances. 

3. If you possess an unforgiving spirit, you are unable to receive God's forgiveness. Read the next sentence very closely. Jesus places on us the condition of being forgiving, as a basis for being forgiven. 

<ronbwriting@yahoo.com>