Calendar

A FORGIVING HEART (I)
TUESDAY, MAY 4
Matthew 18:21-35

1 John 1:5-10

 

“…if ye from your hearts

forgive not…”

 

A FORGIVING HEART (I)
 
Forgiveness is not a concept held in high regard by the world. Indeed, it is often seen as a sign of weakness; an unnecessary concession. The world today loudly demands “justice,” but men by and large do not recognise the beauty of forgiveness, nor their own need of it.
 
Yet to the Christian, forgiveness means everything. At its very core the Christian gospel is a message of forgiveness, offered to all in the Lord Jesus Christ. The abiding joy and hope of the penitent sinner lies in the revelation that “thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (Ps 86:5) ‒ that because of the substitutionary death, atoning sacrifice, and triumphant resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
 
If this is so, then God’s forgiveness, once believed, received, and enjoyed, must have an impact on our own hearts. Typical of the carnal mind is the focus on self, and the wrong that we ourselves have suffered: exemplified in Peter’s question, “how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive…” (Matt 18:21, emphasis added). But the recognition of the greatness of our sins against God, and the extent of His forgiveness towards us, ought to put into perspective the relatively trivial slights we suffer at the hands of others.
 
Hence the Lord Jesus makes this comparison to a debt that is owed. Such is the kingdom of heaven (v 23), that those who serve the King of kings are those who owe Him what they cannot possibly hope to repay (a debt of “ten thousand talents,” v 24), and who rightly deserve condemnation on account of their debt; but they have been freely forgiven (v 27). How unthinkable, in such a case, for an uncharitable and unforgiving spirit to be found in God’s people! Would this not imply that the unforgiving servant has never truly experienced for himself the Lord’s forgiveness?
 
THOUGHT: “Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?” (Matt 18:33)

PRAYER: Father, help me to forgive, as I have been forgiven.

Search