“Pray then like this: “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 also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
- Matthew 6:9-13, ESV21 “Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
- Matthew 18:21-35, ESV
Forgiveness is RELATING to others based on God’s MERCY toward US and RELEASING others to God’s JUSTICE.
“And out of PITY for him, the master of that servant RELEASED him and FORGAVE him the debt.”
- Matthew 18:27, ESV“And in anger his MASTER delivered HIM to the jailers, until he should PAY all his debt.”
- Matthew 18:34, ESV
FORGIVENESS ISN’T the same as Justice.
Forgiveness ISN’T the same as RECONCILIATION or TRUST. (although in some cases, this can be re-established.)
We are ALL in DEBT.
“And forgive us our DEBTS, as we also have forgiven our debtors...”
- Matthew 6:12, ESV“And out of pity for him the MASTER of that servant released him and forgave him the DEBT.”
- Matthew 18:27, ESV“For the WAGES of SIN is DEATH, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- Romans 6:23, ESV“God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the OFFERING for our sin, so that we could be MADE RIGHT with God through Christ.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:21, NLT“REPENT therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that TIMES of REFRESHING may come from the presence of the Lord...”
- Acts 3:19-20, ESV
Forgiveness Should be EXTENDED to Others.
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
- Matthew 6:14–15 (ESV)
HOW should we forgive?
Intentionally (it’s a decision)
“And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.”
- Matthew 18:27, ESV
Repeatedly (it’s a process)
“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but SEVENTY-SEVEN TIMES.”
- Matthew 18:21–22, ESV
Compassionately (From the heart)
So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
- Matthew 18:35, ESV
Restoratively (if possible)
Unforgiveness leads to TORMENT.
“And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
- Matthew 18:34-35, ESV“Strive for PEACE with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “ROOT of BITTERNESS [poisonous]” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled…”
- Hebrews 12:14–15, ESV
SAMPLE PRAYERS:
For Personal Forgiveness:
“Father, in the name of Jesus, please forgive me for _______(describe what happened)______ . Thank you for forgiving me and for helping to live for you. Amen.”
For Forgiving Others:
“Father, in the name of Jesus, I choose to forgive___(person, yourself, or a situation) for _____(describe what happened)___________. Amen.”