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 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. 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."
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This passage is a tough pill to swallow. I love to have grace and mercy extended to me, yet I find it so satisfying to dish out the punishment and mayhem to others.
JESUS tells Peter a story about a merchant who was forgiven a large sum, yet could not forgive someone a small sum. HIS analogy relates to us becoming Christians, yet we (I) don't treat people with the mercy GOD has bestowed on us.
Mercy is a very strange thing I have pondered quite a while. Mercy means "you know" what wrong the person has done and "they know" what wrong they have done yet "you don't punish" them for what they have done.
I like to be right and get my way. I have said this many times before in the past. In being right and getting my way, I throw away mercy when the time is right. The hammer of judgment comes falling fast and I jump out there to argue my point, "because I'm right!"
Being "right" is not always the best for the relationship, especially when its a GODLY relationship. When GOD puts two people together, one of them will make a mistake. I guess it feels good to be respected and I take this opportunity to "grab" some respect by being right.
BUT GOD wants me to be merciful rather than being right.GOD sees every sin I have ever done.
- GOD forgives me for my sins.
- GOD does not punish me for my sins.
- GOD loves me more in the middle of my sins.
- GOD wants me to treat people like HE treated me.
Peter asked JESUS "How many times should I forgive someone?" JESUS says "A whole bunch!" OK that was paraphrased but you get the point. There is one person that I have also learned to forgive that is very special to me. "Me!"
I look at this scripture and I have also learned to forgive me for my mistakes and faults. By forgiving myself, I get plenty of practice and I can then forgive others.
- Did someone do you wrong?
- Can you forgive them for the wrong they have done?
- Do you have to be "right" and "heard" today?
- Why do you have to be "right" and "heard"?
- If GOD protects you from "being walked over" why are "you" trying to prevent it?
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