Forgiveness is our choice to release a person from an obligation for a wrong committed against us.
Excuses we use for not forgiving:
- I can’t forgive, it’s too big, too painful.
- I need more time.
- I’ll forgive when they say they are sorry.
- I can’t forgive if I can’t forget.
- If I forgive they will just hurt me again.
Matthew 18:21–35 (niv)
21then peter came to jesus and asked, “lord, how many times shall i forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22jesus answered, “i tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23“therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24as he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him.
25since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26“at this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and i will pay back everything.’
27the servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28“but when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ He demanded.
29“his fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘be patient with me, and i will pay it back.’
30“but he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
31when the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32“then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘i canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.
33shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as i had on you?’
34in anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35“this is how my heavenly father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
There is no score card in forgiveness
Matthew 18:22 (niv)
22jesus answered, “i tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Unforgiveness will affect you.
Matthew 18:28 (niv)
28“but when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ He demanded.
Unforgiveness will affect everyone around you.
Matthew 18:31 (niv)
31when the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
Because we’ve been forgiven much, we forgive.
Matthew 18:32–33 (niv)
32“then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘i canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.
33shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as i had on you?’
Forgiveness is not a feeling.
Forgiveness is not pretending you were not hurt.
Forgiveness is not forgetting.
Forgiveness is not condoning what the offender did to you.
Forgiveness is not immediately trusting the offender.
Forgiveness is not being a doormat.
Unforgiveness will affect your relationship with God.
Matthew 18:34–35 (niv)
34in anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35“this is how my heavenly father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Matthew 6:14–15 (niv)
14for if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you.
15but if you do not forgive others their sins, your father will not forgive your sins.
Forgiveness is a command, not a suggestion.
Ephesians 4:31–32 (niv)
31 get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32 be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in christ god forgave you.
