Forgiveness has no limits


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Forgiveness is not just a word, it has a lot of meaning!


1. Forgiveness is urgently needed for injustice

For example, forgiveness is necessary for
  • Misdemeanor
  • commit an offense and be guilty
  • Disregarding and despising people
  • unfair treatment
  • neglect
  • and much more

Misdemeanors range from mild to very serious: for example adultery or unfair inheritance. This takes time for the willingness to forgive. Until the internal injuries heal.


2. Peter's question

Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother when he wrongs me? Isn't seven times enough? Jewish tradition teaches that one should forgive three times. Peter offers seven times more than twice as much. The number seven was also considered the number of perfection.

Jesus’ answer: “No”! Not just seven times, but seventy times seven times.



3. Forgiveness is a commandment of God

And if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” Luke 17:4 (ESV)

Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:13 (ESV) 


 

4. The parable of the debtor - first act

For God's heavenly kingdom is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his stewards. First, a man was brought before the king who owed him a very very big sum. But he couldn't pay this debt. That's why the king wanted to sell him, his wife, his children and all his possessions in order to get at least part of his money back. But the man fell down before the king and begged him: 'Lord, be patient! I want to pay for everything.’ Then the king took pity. He released him and forgave him his debts. According to Matthew 18:23-35 (HFA)


Here we are talking about a king who forgives his steward without any judgment. The man was free in more ways than one.

No more tormenting thoughts. What will happen when my wrongdoings come to light? This burden was now lifted from him. No reparation, chained him to the king for the rest of his life.



5. The parable of the debtor - second act


The administrator meets an employee who owed him a small amount. When one compares the amount the steward owed the king, this amount pales into complete insignificance.

With the same words that the steward used to the king, the second man now also promises to repay his debts.

It wasn't an empty promise, in this case it was entirely possible. A temporary postponement of the claim would have been sufficient. But the steward didn't want to hear about it and had him thrown into prison.

 

 
The administrator was ruthless, heartless, harsh, unloving, unreceptive to requests, merciless and forbidding.


6. The parable of the debtor - third act


Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,[11] until he should pay all his debt. Matthew 18:32-34 (ESV)


7. Forgiveness knows no boundaries

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, Matthew 6:12+14 (ESV) 


 

Author: Edith Waechter
Image 1,3+6 - AI: https://www.bing.com/images/create/
Image 2,4+5: https://unsplash.com/

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