How many times should I show forgiveness?
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21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.
Matt 18:21-
By this calculation, 10,000 talents puts this person in debt roughly $14 billion dollars! Even if he should pay $1,000 a day every day of his life, it would take over 3,800 years to pay back! Even if he should pay $1,000 a day every day of his life, it would take over 3,800 years to pay back!
That is a HUGE debt…it was a debt that was virtually impossible for him pay back. Do you know what the point Jesus was making? That you and I have a debt to God that we can never pay, it is called the sin debt.
26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
Matt. 18:26-
Do you see what just happened, the king was the only one who had the power to great forgiveness of any debt. So the king showed the man compassion and forgave him the debt. What a great gift?
:28-
28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
100 denarii = 100 days wages
$10 an hour in wages - 100 days of 8 hour day labor = $8000.00
What is $8000 compared to 14 billion? There is no comparison.
Matt. 18:21-
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.
32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’
34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
The man fell to his knees and begged for mercy because he couldn’t pay his debt. Sound familiar? Listen to what happened in the end of this story.
30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.
32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’
34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
Matt 18:30
This man was forgiven so much, and yet he couldn’t forgive someone else for this little amount.
The point Jesus was making was that we have all been forgiven for so much by God. He chose to love us and offer us forgiveness for sin. If we have been forgiven for so much, how can we not forgive a friend or classmate or family member or anyone else for that matter who has done something wrong to us?
Forgiveness is always the best option.
It’s not easy to forgive others, but it is what Jesus commands us to do. Even if the other person is not really sorry, we still have to forgive and give it over to God.
says, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Remember, we should forgive others the way God has forgiven us.
By this calculation, 10,000 talents puts this person in debt roughly $14 billion dollars! Even if he should pay $1,000 a day every day of his life, it would take over 3,800 years to pay back! Even if he should pay $1,000 a day every day of his life, it would take over 3,800 years to pay back!
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Group Discussion Questions
What other passages of scripture do you know about that talks about forgiveness? Look those passages up and share them with the group.
Are some things easier to forgive than others? If so, what actions are easier to forgive? What actions are harder to forgive?
Does it make it easier for you to forgive others knowing that Jesus has forgiven you on so many things? Why or why not?
Ask any other questions that may come to mind about forgiveness?