HOW TO FORGIVE SOMEONE WHO HURT YOU
Let’s do Bible studies together.
Matthew 18:21–35 NKJV
So, Peter was intrigued about forgiveness and decided to ask Jesus more about it. The passage starts by saying:
“Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.’”
Jesus then narrated this story:
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 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. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 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!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 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. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
There are so many verses in this chapter that got me to sit up. Questions like:
“How come a servant owes that much money?”
“If you lent someone money and it reached a certain amount, wouldn’t you stop lending them money? Why continue?”
“How can you just erase such a huge debt for someone? Like, just walk away from it?”
I don’t know if you guys are understanding the amount of money this servant owed the master. NKJV says he owed ten thousand talents, but let’s simplify this using the NLT so you can understand the amount in our current currency: “In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars.” (Matthew 18:24 NLT). Millions of dollars just wiped away. This right here helps me understand the power of forgiveness. How can someone forgive a debt that large? Something as huge as this? In the same way, you may also be thinking, “How can I forgive someone for causing me this much pain?” But I’m here to help you understand something.
This Bible story talks about the master forgiving his servant, who owed such a huge amount of money, and then that same servant refusing to forgive his fellow servant, who owed him a much smaller amount.
As Christians, forgiveness is one of the fundamental stones upon which we stand. Christ came to earth and died for us so that our sins could be washed away. Such a huge price to pay, yet He did all of this for us. If Jesus could do this for you, everything else becomes small in comparison to His sacrifice.
“He stole my money.”
“He cheated on me.”
“She insulted me.”
“She did…”"He did..."
These issues can feel like unforgivable sins to us, but when compared to our own sins, which Christ came to forgive, they are small in comparison. You might be reading this today and thinking I’m being insensitive, but am I really? We hold on to situations that birth more hatred within us. If Jesus can forgive an adulterer or a murderer, then so can we as Christians. Why? Because we strive to become more like Christ. Remember, daily we sin, and daily we ask for forgiveness, and Christ forgives us.
I even did the maths. From the moment I was born up until today at 3:00 p.m., that’s 236,567 hours that I have spent on earth. Imagine all the sins I have committed within those hours. I walk to Jesus and ask Him to forgive me, and He does. Now, when someone comes and offends me, I am expected to forgive them because I have been forgiven of all my sins. View life like this: If Christ can forgive me, then I can also forgive others, no matter their offence. Leave all of it at the feet of Jesus. Don’t let Him call you back and question you just like the king called back the servant. May God bless you as you forgive people, and may He give you the strength to do so, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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