Most people in the body of Christ find the command to forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13) the most challenging of all the one another scriptures. When we are hurt or wounded by others, our natural inclination is to “get even”. How are we to respond to the pain, sorrow, and wounds that have been afflicted upon us by others? It is of no surprise that Jesus spoke more about forgiveness than anyone else.
Every time that Jesus taught about forgiveness, His teaching was almost always met with unbelief. According to Jesus, forgiveness is a matter of submitting my will to Him. Jesus commanded us to forgive in the same manner that we have been forgiven. In Mark 11:22-26, Jesus linked faith in God to move mountains to the subject of forgiveness.
Matthew 18:21-35 is one of the most powerful teachings of The Master about forgiving others. The teaching of Jesus leaves no wiggle room for “private interpretation.” A servant with an unpayable debt was brought before the king. The man begged for patience and said he would pay back the debt. The king, moved with compassion loosed him and forgave him. This same servant turned around and refused to extend the same forgiveness to a fellow servant. Jesus called the unforgiving servant “wicked”. He rebuked him for his refusal to show compassion and pity as had been given to him. This unforgiving servant was send to the tormentors.
Forgiveness is not a matter of mathematics (70 x 7). It is the extension to others of the grace of God that God has given me through Jesus Christ.
