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13 To forgive you must forgive

Gospel
Matthew 18:21-35
To be forgiven, you must forgive

Peter went up to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.
    ‘And so the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants. When the reckoning began, they brought him a man who owed ten thousand talents; but he had no means of paying, so his master gave orders that he should be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, to meet the debt. At this, the servant threw himself down at his master’s feet. “Give me time” he said “and I will pay the whole sum.” And the servant’s master felt so sorry for him that he let him go and cancelled the debt. Now as this servant went out, he happened to meet a fellow servant who owed him one hundred denarii; and he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him. “Pay what you owe me” he said. His fellow servant fell at his feet and implored him, saying, “Give me time and I will pay you.” But the other would not agree; on the contrary, he had him thrown into prison till he should pay the debt. His fellow servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened, and they went to their master and reported the whole affair to him. Then the master sent for him. “You wicked servant,” he said “I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?” And in his anger the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’

 Reflection
This passage challenges us to view forgiveness as a lifestyle rooted in gratitude rather than a calculated transaction. The servant’s failure was his spiritual amnesia; he forgot the overwhelming grace he had just received. We often quantify our patience, yet God’s mercy toward us is immeasurable—symbolized by the ten thousand talents compared to a mere hundred denarii. True discipleship requires us to be conduits of this divine grace. If we cling to bitterness, we imprison ourselves in the debt God has already cleared. To follow Jesus is to welcome His boundless love and let it flow freely toward others.

 Reflection Question
Is there someone in your life whom you are holding to a standard of "perfect justice," while you yourself continue to rely daily on God’s "perfect mercy"?

 Prayer
Lord, thank You for the infinite debt You have erased in my life through Your son, Jesus. Soften my hardened heart so that I may reflect Your mercy to those who wrong me. Grant me the strength to forgive "seventy-seven times," letting go of bitterness so that I may live in the freedom of Your love. Amen.


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