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.”
I’m glad that Peter asked Jesus a question about forgiveness when Jesus was teaching him and the disciples about The Kingdom. Peter would later find out for himself in real life about forgiveness. Jesus’s response to Peter’s question is a lesson for all of us. Forgiveness should be our lifestyle. He modeled it for us. We must always be ready to forgive.
Peter failed miserably the night that Jesus was arrested, tried and crucified. His failure to admit that he knew Jesus was disappointing since he had a close and personal relationship with Jesus. Yet, on the night Jesus was arrested, tried and crucified, Peter denied that he knew Jesus, not one time but three times!
Do you know what Jesus did when He had risen from the dead that Sunday morning? When Mary Magdelene and Mary, mother of James, arrived at the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body for burial, they met an angel at the tomb. This is what the angel said to them:
“Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” Mark 16:6-7
“But go, tell His disciples―and Peter―…The angel’s message clearly and specifically calls Peter by name. In this message from the angel, we see that, despite Peter’s weakness in denying Jesus three times, as Jesus told him he would do, Jesus forgave Peter, and Peter was restored―a powerful example of Jesus modeling forgiveness.
When a person commits a trespass, a debt, a transgression or an offense against you, there is immediately the potential for you to forgive. God asks us to forgive one another so therefore, we, too, must forgive. When we sin against God, we can humbly go to Him and ask Him to forgive us based on what His Son, Jesus, did for us on the Cross. God will forgive us.
Ephesians 4:32 NKJ
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Forgiveness is important to God and to us. See what Matthew 18: 23-35 NKJV says in The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant:
Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment 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. So when 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 called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! Iforgave 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.”
Ephesians 4:32 NKJ
It’s very clear―God will not forgive you if you do not forgive others. Let’s pray that our hearts will always be open and willing to forgive. It pleases God when we forgive. Let’s live a life of forgiveness. Do not become like the unforgiving servant who was forgiven of his debt but refused to extend forgiveness to someone who owed a debt to him. It didn’t end well for the unforgiving servant.
Decide to relinquish your right to repayment. Do not seek revenge or retribution. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He taught them to ask God to forgive them of their trespasses or debts as they forgive others who had trespassed against them. Matthew 6: 14-15 in The Message Bible says it this way: “In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.”
Do you have any unforgiveness in your heart? Ask God to give you the Grace to forgive.
God’s forgiveness is amazing! Your forgiveness is a result of God’s Amazing Grace!