April
30, 2003
FORGIVING
OTHERS
"For
if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father
will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their
trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses"
(Matthew 6:14, 15, NKJV).
One day
Peter came to Jesus and said, "Lord, how often shall
my bother 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"
(Matthew 18:21, 22). Then Jesus went on to tell a story about
a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. One
man owed him 10,000 talents. The servant was not able to pay
and the king went about to sell the man and his wife and children
into slavery, and all that he had, that payment might be made.
"The servant therefore fell down
before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I
will pay you all.' Then the master of that servant was moved
with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
"But
that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and
took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' So
his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying,
'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' And he would
not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay
the debt. His fellow servants saw what had been done, they
were very grieved, and came and told their master all that
had been done. Then his master, after he had call 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."--Matthew
18:26-35.
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