Category: Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother? Matthew 18:21

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 18:31; Hebrews 12:15 There’s one verse in this parable that is often missed. “When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.” The man in this parable wasn’t very subtle about his actions, since he had the poor guy who owed him a few[…]

Today Scripture: Isaiah 55:7-8 This true story may capture the essence of what it means to pardon a debt. Lucien Young, a Kentuckian, served in the Navy in the 1800’s. When one of the naval vessels wrecked, he helped save the lives of several people. As a result, he received a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy, a gold[…]

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 6:12; Luke 11:4; 1 Peter 4:8 In the gospels, Jesus instructed seventeen different times about forgiving others. He even included it in His model prayer. Notice in Matthew’s account of the Lord’s prayer, he states, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” However, Luke says, “Forgive us our sins (trespasses). . . “Why two different[…]

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 18:24-27; Matthew 10:8 If you’re like me, you read this parable and shake your head wondering how a person who was forgiven of so much could rightfully insist that one man who owed him so little pay up immediately. Absurd, isn’t it? Verse 24 indicates the servant owed the king ten thousand talents. Conservatively speaking, a talent[…]

Today’s Scriptures: Matthew 18:23; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27 Peter’s question about forgiveness inspired Jesus to share a parable showing two extremes of forgiveness. He begins the story with the statement that the king wanted to “settle accounts” with his servants. Scripture is clear that each of us will give an account of ourselves before God[…]

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 18:15-17; Jeremiah 31:34b; Hebrews 8:12 The word forgive literally means “forth-give”—to intentionally choose to dismiss from thought. (What does that do to the argument “I’ll forgive, but I won’t forget”?) The Greek meaning is to send away the offense—to leave it alone, to not repeat it to anyone else, and not rehearse it to ourselves. This is[…]

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 18:15-17, 21-35; Amos 2:6; 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 Forgiveness can be a hot topic, can’t it? For years, people have debated the “forgive but don’t forget” assertion. Some individuals feel obligated to keep exact records of people’s sins. Others claim leniency should be shown only when the offender admits his wrongdoing. No apology—no mercy. I think God sometimes[…]