Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins
against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven
times.” Matthew 18:21–22
Forgiveness of another is difficult. It’s much easier to remain
angry. This line quoted above is the introduction to the Parable of
the Unforgiving Servant. In that parable, Jesus makes it clear that
if we want to receive forgiveness from God, then we must forgive
others. If we withhold forgiveness, we can be certain that God will
withhold it from us.
Peter may have thought that he was being quite generous in his
question to Jesus. Clearly Peter had been considering Jesus’
teachings about forgiveness and was ready to take the next step of
offering that forgiveness freely. But Jesus’ answer to Peter makes
it clear that Peter’s concept of forgiveness greatly paled in
comparison to the forgiveness demanded by our Lord.
The parable that Jesus then tells presents us with a man who was
forgiven a huge debt. Subsequently, when that man encountered a
person who owed him a small debt, he failed to offer the same
forgiveness that was given to him. As a result, the master of that
man who was forgiven the huge debt becomes outraged and requires
once again a full payment of the debt. And then Jesus ends the
parable with a shocking statement. He says, “Then in anger his
master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back
the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each
of you forgives your brother from your heart.”
Note that the forgiveness God expects us to offer others is one
that comes from the heart. And note that a lack of forgiveness on
our part will result in us being handed “over to the torturers.”
These are serious words. By “torturers,'' we should understand that
the sin of not forgiving another brings with it much interior pain.
When we hold on to anger, this act “tortures” us in a certain way.
Sin always has this effect upon us, and it is for our good. It’s a
way in which God constantly challenges us to change. Thus, the only
way to freedom from this interior form of torture by our sin is to
overcome that sin, and in this case, to overcome the sin of
withholding forgiveness.
Reflect, today, upon the calling God has given to you to forgive to
the fullest extent. If you still sense anger in your heart toward
another, keep working at it. Forgive over and over. Pray for that
person. Refrain from judging them or condemning them. Forgive,
forgive, forgive, and God’s abundant mercy will also be given to
you.
My forgiving Lord, I thank You for the unfathomable depths of
Your mercy. I thank You for Your willingness to forgive me over and
over again. Please give me a heart worthy of that forgiveness by
helping me to forgive all people to the same extent that You have
forgiven me. I forgive all who have sinned against me, dear Lord.
Help me to continue to do so from the depths of my heart. Jesus, I
trust in You.
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Featured image above: Christ and His Disciples on Their Way to
Emmaus By Pieter Cock van Aelst
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