How Forgiving Are You?

KEY VERSE: “Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?” —Matthew 18:33

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Matthew 18:21-34

THE ACT OF forgiveness is an expression of mercy, and mercy is a quality of love. Jesus’ instructions to Peter to forgive ‘seventy times seven’, must be understood as reflecting Jesus’ own attitude toward erring ones, and also the attitude of his Heavenly Father.

“The kingdom of heaven,” Jesus said, “is likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.” The principal lesson of this parable is that the Lord is desirous that every member of the “little flock” to whom it is his good pleasure to give the kingdom will possess the same disposition of mercy as that which he himself exercises. Mercy is one of the aspects of true holiness, and we are admonished to be holy as God is holy.

While the parable pertains particularly to the kingdom class now being developed, we may take a broader view of the Lord’s mercy than that which is seen in his dealing with his servants of the present age. Divine justice called for the condemnation of the human race to death because of sin, but the love of God provided a way of escape from this condemnation. Thus we read that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”—John 3:16

Divine mercy could not operate toward the fallen race apart from the satisfaction of the debt by means of the ransom, but it was the attitude of mercy, or of forgiveness, that prompted the Heavenly Father to give his Son. Paul wrote, “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”—Rom. 5:8

It was this love of God expressed through Christ, which constrained us to present ourselves in consecration to do his will. (II Cor. 5:14,15) Thus we became the “servants,” in the parable, and our appreciation of divine mercy and love should influence us to be merciful.

In reckoning with his servants, one is brought before the king who owes him a huge debt. The situation for this servant is hopeless unless the king exercises mercy toward him. The king was “moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.”

This servant to whom so much had been forgiven, did not show mercy toward a fellow servant who owed him but a small debt. His colleagues, and the king also, were displeased with this ungrateful attitude, and the man was properly punished. The purpose of this parable is to emphasize the importance of mercy in our dealings with one another, especially in our relationship with fellow Christians.

This basic lesson is clearly set forth in the Master’s teachings. He taught us to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. … If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”—Matt. 6:12,14,15

There is no limit to the number of times we should forgive those who trespass against us; for there is no limit to the times we need the Lord’s forgiveness.

And it is essential that we have the spirit of forgiveness in our hearts even before forgiveness is asked. This was illustrated by our Heavenly Father’s attitude toward the sin-cursed race. It was his spirit of mercy and forgiveness that prompted his gift of our dear Redeemer. Had God waited for the world to repent and seek forgiveness, a Redeemer would never have been provided.

Now that the way has been opened for the sinner’s return to favor with God, the divine plan provides for an opportunity in Christ’s kingdom for all to know about this provision and to accept it, to repent and to believe.

“Shouldest not thou also have had compassion?”

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