The parable says "Then Peter came to JESUS and asked, “LORD, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” answered JESUS, “but seventy times seven, because the Kingdom of Heaven is like this. Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants' accounts. He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before the king. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay you everything.’ The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go. “Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him. ‘Pay back what you owe me,’ he said. His fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into jail until he should pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him everything. So he called the servant in. ‘You worthless slave,’ he said. ‘I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to. You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.’ The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount.” And JESUS concluded, “That is how MY FATHER in Heaven will treat every one of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
As you can see this servant debt was much more than he was capable to pay, but the king forgave him. The Bible says the king took pity on him, he cancelled the debt and let him go.
But when it was time for him to forgive and show mercy to his fellow servant, even after he begged him to be patient with him because he will pay back, this servant didn't show his fellow servant mercy. When the king heard of what this unmerciful servant did, the Bible says the king told the unforgiving servant, ‘I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to. You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.’ The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount.”
In the book of Matthew chapter 7 verses 1 and 2, the LORD JESUS said “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Therefore we can conclude based on Matthew chapter 7 verses 1 and 2, the more we forgive, the more we will be forgiven. With the same measure we show forgiveness, it will be shown to our lives. In the book of Matthew chapter 5 verse 7, it also says, "GOD blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Another translation says, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
Our Heavenly FATHER GOD wants you and me to be forgiving like HIM. If you notice in the LORD'S Prayer, there is a part that says "GOD forgives our debts, as we also forgives our debtors (Matthew 6:12, Luke 11:4)."
But when it was time for him to forgive and show mercy to his fellow servant, even after he begged him to be patient with him because he will pay back, this servant didn't show his fellow servant mercy. When the king heard of what this unmerciful servant did, the Bible says the king told the unforgiving servant, ‘I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to. You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.’ The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount.”
In the book of Matthew chapter 7 verses 1 and 2, the LORD JESUS said “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Therefore we can conclude based on Matthew chapter 7 verses 1 and 2, the more we forgive, the more we will be forgiven. With the same measure we show forgiveness, it will be shown to our lives. In the book of Matthew chapter 5 verse 7, it also says, "GOD blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Another translation says, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
Our Heavenly FATHER GOD wants you and me to be forgiving like HIM. If you notice in the LORD'S Prayer, there is a part that says "GOD forgives our debts, as we also forgives our debtors (Matthew 6:12, Luke 11:4)."
There are probably several lessons we can learn from this parable of the unforgiving servant, but I would like to share two of them that I see its mandatory for you and me to know.
One, GOD gives unlimited forgiveness. The LORD JESUS used the seventy times seven forgiving principle to describe the forgiving essence and character of GOD. That is how many times GOD wants you and me to forgive each time when someone keep on sinning against our lives, because that is what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.
As people belonging to the Kingdom of Heaven, we are supposed to be forgiving and merciful to others always. Our GOD is very merciful, and HE gives unlimited forgiveness. HE keeps on forgiving our lives every day. We also, should be forgiving like HIM.
Two, there are consequences when we fail to forgive. Failure to forgive has consequences. The parable says, the king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount. And if he won't be able to pay all the amount, then other members of his family would need to pay the debt until the whole amount is paid back. In fact before the servant begged him the first time, the king did order for him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, to pay the debt. We learn that our unforgiveness can somehow also affect our loved ones lives.
Two, there are consequences when we fail to forgive. Failure to forgive has consequences. The parable says, the king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount. And if he won't be able to pay all the amount, then other members of his family would need to pay the debt until the whole amount is paid back. In fact before the servant begged him the first time, the king did order for him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, to pay the debt. We learn that our unforgiveness can somehow also affect our loved ones lives.
In the book of Mark chapter 11 verses 24 and 25, the LORD JESUS also said, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your FATHER in Heaven may forgive your sins.”
The LORD JESUS has taught that we should pray to GOD for forgiveness for things we have done wrong, and He made it clear that receiving forgiveness was also dependent on forgiving others. We should show mercy to others as well if we expect to receive mercy from GOD. Because we have been forgiven we should also be ready to forgive.
The LORD JESUS has taught that we should pray to GOD for forgiveness for things we have done wrong, and He made it clear that receiving forgiveness was also dependent on forgiving others. We should show mercy to others as well if we expect to receive mercy from GOD. Because we have been forgiven we should also be ready to forgive.
My prayer for you and me, and our loved ones is to be given the grace to be forgiving people. May GOD give you and me the grace to always forgive others, and ourselves. I pray in the Mighty Name of JESUS CHRIST.
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