Our scripture for the Daily Devotional today is taken from Matthew 18: 21-35. How often have we wondered Peter’s words? How many times do I need to forgive that person that continues to drive me crazy time and time again?
“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.[g]
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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[h] 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.[i] 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.”
Surely forgiving our neighbors and those around us 7 times should be sufficient. After all, we all know about the 3 strike rule! So Peter offering to forgive his neighbors 7 times is being more than fair.
Jesus turns our human thinking mind around. Although He said to forgive someone 70 x 7 each day, He went on to discuss forgiveness. The parable explains how we should view forgiveness. God has forgiven us SO much, how can we but not repatriate some of the forgiveness towards others. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. A demonstration of love is forgiveness. No matter the fault or error, forgiveness is a fruit of love!
We have been forgiven such a large debt, one that could never be repaid, that we should live life more grateful and forgiving.
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you, God, that You have forgiven me such a large debt. My sin has exceeded my understanding, but You have forgiven it all! Because you have loved me and demonstrated Your love through forgiveness, I want to follow your lead and live a life full of more forgiveness for those around me. Empower me with Your Spirit to love and forgive.
In Jesus name
Amen