And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matthew 6:12
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant,
even as I had pity on thee? Matthew 18:33
Jesus expects us to forgive
It’s pretty simple, but slightly difficult to fully understand
What we do is we accept His forgiveness
and then we forget how wretched we are
and we elevate ourselves to Heavenly places
We’ve all done it
This is not pleasing to God
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Then came Peter to Him, and said,
Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?
till seven times? Jesus saith unto him,
I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king,
which would take account of his servants.
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him,
which owed him ten thousand talents.
But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold,
and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying,
Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him,
and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants,
which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him,
and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying,
Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison,
till he should pay the debt.
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry,
and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him,
O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt,
because thou desiredst me:
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant,
even as I had pity on thee?
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors,
till he should pay all that was due unto him.
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you,
if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Matthew 18:22-35
The parable above shows how Jesus wants us
to accept and extend forgiveness, just as He has forgiven us
It takes mercy on our parts, it takes love, it takes courage and humility
to receive the strength we need from the Lord
that we may be able to extend forgiveness to others
This next parable reminds us to remain humble
and not to trust in our own righteousness
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves
that they were righteous, and despised others:
Two men went up into the temple to pray;
the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,
God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners,
unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off,
would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven,
but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other:
for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased;
and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Luke 18:9-14
A stark reminder…
Both are God’s word and they are very clear as is this warning from Jesus:
For if ye forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15
Don’t excuse your unforgiveness
There is no excuse we can give that will be acceptable before the Lord
Tell Him how you feel, no matter how much it hurts,
forgive anyway, love anyway
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32