Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

 

Why does Jesus speak about forgiveness like this? Isn't God's forgiveness free? Do we earn something by being forgiving? And how do I forgive someone who's really, deeply hurt me?

Jesus addresses the concerns about forgiveness in a conversation with his disciples in Matthew 18 capping it off with a powerful parable that ends with these words (vv. 34-35):

In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.

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So, let's dig into this story and find out what's going on, and how forgiveness can and should change our lives, making us good soil for the Kingdom to grow in all its righteousness/goodness.

 

1.Read and reflect on Matthew 18. How do the different conversation bits and parables fit together?

**Note, some translations say that Peter (we) should forgive 77 times, while others say 70 times 7 times. The Greek says "seventy-times seven"; one word means seventy times and then that is followed by the word for seven. It's possible Jesus only meant the number 77, but he is probably saying seventy sevens. This comes up in the video.

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2. Watch/listen to the message.

3. Complete the Practice below to complete this module.
 

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