FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER

Sometimes it is hard to forgive. Someone, either a friend or relative, has offended you in some
way and you harbor resentment toward that person. Even if you talk to them every day, still,
deep down inside you remember what they did and you dislike them for it.
The reason you can’t forgive them is because you don’t know or have forgotten what God has
forgiven you of and for.
In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus Christ tells a parable and relates it to God and the individual.
Matthew 18:21-35 (KJV)
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I
forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of
his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand
talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and
children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me,
and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him
the debt.
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an
hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou
owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me,
and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto
their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave
thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was
due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not
every one his brother their trespasses.
In the Epistles God explains that He has gone further than He was able to go in the Gospels because of
what Jesus Christ accomplished.2 Corinthians 5:19 (KJV)
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto
them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
While Jesus Christ fulfilled his messianic mission God did not point out how unworthy Israel was. He did
not stop Jesus Christ from delivering people and say “theses people are unworthy.” Nope! God worked
with Jesus Christ to help all that willed to be set free from the bondage of sin and sickness.
God knew that none of the people that Jesus Christ ministered to were worthy, but, He did it anyway
because He did not impute (blame them for their sins and shortcomings) trespasses to them.
Ephesians 2:1-9 (KJV)
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince
of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
We, too, were like the Ephesians, we were children of wrath, but, God loved us and did not
impute our sins unto us.
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are
saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness
toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Colossians 2:13 (KJV)
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with
him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
God forgave you ALL of you sins! God forgave you ALL of the things that you did that were contrary to
Him and gave you His holy spirit so that when you confessed Jesus as lord and believed God raised him
from the dead, you become a son of God and are set for heaven and nothing can stop you from going.
Keep in mind what God forgave you of and you will never have a problem forgiving someone else.