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." (1)

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." (2) 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." (3)

1. Matthew 6:14, 15.
2. Matthew 18:21, 22.
3. Matthew 18:26-35.