Forgiving

We must always bear in mind that in the prayer that Jesus taught His followers we pray,

“Forgive us our debt as we forgive our debtors.”

There is the thought that the sinner seeking forgiveness must himself practice forgiveness.

Think about it: Each time we pray this prayer we are asking God to limit His forgiveness of us to the way we forgive other people!

According to the parable of Jesus in Matthew 18:32-35, only the forgiving are justified in seeking forgiveness.

Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant!

I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me.

Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’

Then the angry king sent the man to prison until he had paid every penny.

“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters in your heart.”

The forgiven must be forgiving!

Leon Morris