Unforgiveness

I was reading about this, this morning and the Lord really got my attention and made me think about the implications of this parable; when Jesus told the parable of the unforgiving debtor in Matthew 18:21-35, “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.”

As I think about this, I think of how easy it is for us to forget about the debt we owed and how much we have been forgiven, if we are a born-again believer.  Most of us are guilty of most every crime in the book, if not literally we have committed some of these things in our minds; like lusting after someone in our mind is the same as committing adultery in the heart.  Many of us have knowingly broken the commandments of God in one form or another.  Think about how many times you have taken God’s name in vain, lied, used foul language, deceived people and been angry and bitter at someone.  How many times have you thought in your mind about taking revenge on someone and then carried it out and hurt someone?  I’d like to say since I have been a believer that I haven’t done any of these things but I would be lying.  And what about you, are you guilty of sin since you became a believer?  I thank God for His mercy, grace and His forgiveness, and for sending His only begotten Son to give His life a ransom for our sins.  

I am also thankful for this promise in 1 John 1:9 which says this, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

I know this parable is talking about money, but it is also talking about mercy, grace, compassion and forgiveness on those that have transgressed against us.  Jesus demonstrated all these attributes when He went to the cross willingly and suffered severely and died so that we could be forgiven of our sins; a man who owed no debt but paid the debt we owed.  If God the Father, through Jesus Christ His Son, has forgiven us our debts (sins) how much should we forgive those that sinned against us?  Like Charles Swindoll says, we should have no one on our hit list!!  If the Holy Spirit comes and dwells within a person, that person will have the power to forgive anyone who sins against them.  What I do is this, when I pray I tell the Lord that I choose to forgive the person and I ask Him to help me to love that person.  

I know this is not something that comes naturally, and many people have been hurt terribly, and I am not saying that this is always easy because I know it is not, but with the Holy Spirit’s help it is definitely possible; if it wasn’t God wouldn’t tell us that we have to do it for us to be forgiven.  This should be an eye opener and it is definitely something to think about and to act on, I hope you will.  May God bless you and yours and may you all have a super day!!