Read: Matthew 18
Marked: Matthew 18:21-22, Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Forgiveness. We like to receive it, but it is hard to give when we are the aggrieved party. Peter thought he was doing well when he asked if he should forgive someone up to seven times. Imagine his surprise when Jesus said he should forgive seventy times seven.
When we are aggrieved it can be difficult to forgive someone. Yet, have we not grieved God? Do we seek forgiveness from Him, or do we not give it any thought? Whether we choose to accept it or not, God has forgiven each of us in Jesus, but we wrestle with forgiving others.
Jesus then tells the story of the unforgiving servant. Careful consideration of this parable shows that we have each failed to forgive someone a small debt while having been forgiven a much larger debt by God; a debt so large it is insurmountable.
Forgiveness is in us to give. When we do our Heavenly Father will also forgive us. But if we don’t forgive, can we expect forgiveness from Him? (Matthew 6:14-15).
Father, forgive me my debts as I forgive my debtors (Matthew 6:12).
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