Read: Matthew 18: 21-35The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a]
23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents[b] was brought to him. 25Since 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"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The 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 denarii.[c] 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 you back.'
30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed 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. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned 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 from your heart."
Forgiving Others
This story is an illustration of how God has forgiven us when we asked Him to – and also how we need to have the same forgiving heart, and forgive others. It can be real hard at times to forgive. Especially when the person keeps doing the same thing over and over. It’s even harder to forgive when the person hasn’t asked us or even recognized that they have hurt us. Even in these situations we need to forgive and let it go. Forgiveness is the key to healing and peace. We have peace in our hearts when we know we have forgiven. We can move on and continue in our walk with God. Often if we haven’t forgiven, it can cause us to stumble and not be at peace with God.
Is there someone you need to forgive today? Why not just pray to God, and forgive that person?
Here is a prayer you might like to pray. You can put the person’s name in it.
Lord Jesus,
I’m sorry I haven’t forgiven….. I forgive them now and ask that you surround them with your love. Help me to see them through your eyes. I pray for your love in my heart toward them. In Jesus name. Amen.
Colossians 3:13 (NKJV)
Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
SYW kids insights:
Joanne = Every person has its own differences, so if someone had done you wrong or sinned against you, we must be willing to forgive. We must also learn to respect each other to avoid misunderstanding. Always pray to the Lord whatever bad thing happens to us.
Elchelle = Give in one another, and always forgive our neighbors. The Lord tells us to do it so we have to obey it.
Merchelle = Forgive others like the Lord forgives us.
Michael = Forgive the person who have bad things that have done to you. Always pray and ask forgiveness to the things you've done wrong.
Jen jen = Learn to forgive others even if they have done bad things to you. Surely God will also forgive you as you also forgive others.
Maricel = Forgive others if you also want to be forgiven. If you will forgive others, God will also forgive you. Forgive the person that had done you wrong.
Raymund = Forgiveness is very important to us because if you didn't know how to forgive others, God will not forgive you as well. It's good to forgive others that have done you wrong.
Recheal = Forgiveness is good because God wants us to learn to forgive others like and to be like Him that forgive us from all the bad things we have done.
Kristal = Forgiveness is a good deed that we have to learn. If people learn to forgive others, God will not hesitate to forgive us when we have done wrong in His eyes.
