Digging Deeper – Forgiveness from the Heart
21 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 FROM THE HEART
One cannot be compelled to forgive, much in the same way that one cannot be compelled to love. To revoke the will would be to rob the act of its charity. And both love and forgiveness seem to be ongoing acts. For if I accept an apology in one instance, I am not forever exempt from drinking the bitter poison of unforgiveness. Likewise, love is chosen and practiced in the passage of time rather than in an instant. Both love and forgiveness must, therefore, be offered from the heart.
In Matthew 18:21-35 Jesus tells the Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor to show the importance of forgiving from the heart. The King calls his debtors to settle their accounts and a servant with an large sum begs his master to forgive his enormous debt. Being moved with compassion, the king complies and releases him. The forgiven servant, however, acts cruelly toward one of his own debtors and has him thrown in prison, scorning the opportunity to display the mercy he himself was shown. Hearing of this, the king becomes angry and has the man thrown in prison and his debt reinstated. Jesus closes the story by stating, “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart” (Mt. 18:35).
This last phrase “from the heart” is indicative of the fact that mere verbal forgiveness is not sufficient for righteousness. This is not always easy. Nor is it instantaneous or forced. Like repentance, it is willful and ongoing. Forgiveness from the heart must be sincere, seeking no further recompense and begrudging not. Paul reinforces this idea, telling the Ephesians “[forgive] one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Eph. 5:32).
Ryan Hoffer serves as NextGen Production Director at NorthStar. He holds an M.Div in Church History and enjoys playing the harp. He and his wife, Tiffany, live in Acworth and have three children.