Daily Devotions – The Centrality of Forgiveness

Daily Devotions – The Centrality of Forgiveness

 

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

 

Matthew 18:21-35 (NIV)

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
21 Then 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?” 22 Jesus 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. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since 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.’ 27 The 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. 31 When 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. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In 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.”

Some have wondered why Jesus and His church focus so much on forgiveness. This parable highlights how a heart that lacks a true appreciation of God’s forgiveness and mercy can do incredible damage to others and themselves. Every single time we think we are above someone for any reason and when we think we are justified in holding a grudge against another person we have lost sight of the incredible grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love of God. This is so hard and shocking for us to hear because there is real evil in this world and we have experienced real pain and suffering. But here is what most people miss: the antidote to the pain in our lives is not power, but the infinite and tender mercy of God. Jesus loves us SO much that he holds nothing against us. We are loved. We are accepted. We are forgiven. Now let’s follow Jesus.