Forgiveness

Forgiveness is hard! Imagine going to a hospital and seeing the doctor yell at the patients and torture them! You would be shocked, because we expect the doctor to have mercy and heal us. Sadly in the West people often think of God like a harsh judge rather than as the Good Doctor. Christ tells this story in St. Matthew (18:23-35)...

The Lord spoke this parable: The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything. And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, Pay what you owe. So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, Have patience with me, and I will pay you. He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also My heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.

 

My comments: 

In the story that Christ tells, the first servant is harsh and unforgiving, in contrast to the King who is like God. In modern terms the King forgives $20million, but the servant will not forgive just $20,000 (one-thousandth as much). God is merciful to us and forgives our sins, but to anyone who rejects His Love then the story shows the person misses out on God's healing and is judged instead. God first and mainly wants to HEAL. It is only if we reject God's healing that we suffer, like a patient who rejects the medicine from the doctor. If we ourselves become unmerciful then the warning is "My heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." This is a great verse to memorise to remind us to forgive others!