Some people ask me how it is possible to forgive others. The answer is that in light of the vast number of sins that God has forgiven me, I forgive others. One of my favorite Bible passages to help explain this is from Matthew 18.
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Matthew 18:21-35
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 [a]at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you [b]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 [c]his trespasses.”
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So what about you, my reader? Do you understand what the Bible says about heaven, hell, sin, judgement, and God’s standard? Do you understand that you can’t earn your way to heaven? Are you trusting in Jesus that His death on the cross was sufficient to pay for your sins? Have you repented the turned away from your sin and trusted in Jesus to save you from it?
If you haven’t, I plead with you to turn to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation.
If you have, then reflect upon the many sins that God has forgiven you. The next time someone sins against you, forgiven them as God has forgiven you.