A Need to Forgive

Christ later discusses the danger of not forgiving others, and what he teaches isn’t easy to hear, or to write about. He uses the analogy of a man who was forgiven an enormous debt by his master. This same man who was forgiven refused to forgive the small debts of another. Matthew 18:32-35 shows the results of his inability to forgive:

“Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

We are asked to forgive little, and show a lack of understanding of the forgiveness we’ve received when we refuse to forgive. We want God to forgive us for everything, but we can’t forgive our son-in-law for stealing our baby girl away. We beg His forgiveness when we fall, but think it’s okay when we hold a grudge forever because someone gossiped about us. We demand apologies, and expect people to bend over backwards to earn our forgiveness. Even if they do as we demand it is entirely up to us if we forgive. We can refuse, and feel justified in being angry forever.

This is not the behavior of someone who has been forgiven. Pay attention to the final warning again:

“And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

Heed this warning spoken by Christ, and forgive those you have been unable to forgive. It may be difficult, but the difficulty of forgiving another is nothing compared to being delivered to the torturers. When we are forgiven it means we will not receive the punishment we deserve. If we do not forgive we are condemned, and will receive that punishment. If we are condemned we can do nothing in His name. Swallow your pride, and forgive. Do so in your heart because the Lord can tell if you only speak forgiveness, for a refusal to forgive only destroys you. The Lord will give you nothing that you cannot give to others.