“As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us” Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?”  Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven”  (Matthew 18: 21-22).  Peter probably thought he was being fair-minded, giving a person seven chances to sin against him before writing him off.   Jesus’ reply no doubt surprised Peter, so Jesus took the opportunity to teach a spiritual truth in the form of a parable.  In this parable, God is likened to a king who settled accounts with his servants.  One servant was brought to him who owed him 10,000 talents, an exorbitant sum of money.  The servant could not pay, and his master ordered that he, his wife, his children and all that he owned be sold for payment.  The servant fell down, pleading, “Master, have patience and I will pay all.”  The master of the servant was moved with compassion, forgave him the debt and released him.   Later, this same servant found one of his fellow servants who owed him 100 denarii (about a 100 days’ wages).  He seized him by the throat and demanded payment.  The indebted servant fell to his knees, begging him, “Please, have patience and I will pay you all.”  He would not forgive the man his debt, and had him thrown in prison until he should pay the debt.  When his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved and told their master what had happened.  The master called him and said, “You wicked servant!  I forgave you all of that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?”  The angry master delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due him.   Jesus ended the parable by saying, “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you from his heart does not forgive his brother his trespasses”  (Matthew 18: 35). The 10,000 talents represents the debt of our sins, a debt that is impossible for anyone to pay.  Our redemption was costly; it costs Jesus His life to redeem us back to the Father and declare us “not guilty.”  After receiving the king’s mercy and pardon, this servant chose not to show mercy to his fellow servant.  This is an insult to the grace of God.  Jesus, being sinless and holy, took upon Himself the punishment for our sins so that we could be forgiven and escape hell (prison).   If we, being sinful and in need of mercy ourselves, refuse to forgive another, we are setting ourselves up as the judge and higher than Jesus Christ.  Mercy is not getting what we deserve (hell) and grace is getting what we don’t deserve (forgiveness and eternal life).  If we demand justice for wrongs committed against us, then we will receive judgment for our sins rather than grace.  If we give the one who sins against us the gift of our forgiveness, we remain in the grace of God, trusting God to vindicate us and work it out for His glory and our good.  “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.  Therefore, if your enemy hungers, feed him.  If he thirsts, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire (conviction) on his head”  (Romans 12: 19-21). The “torturers” that the unforgiving servant was delivered to are demon spirits.   The “accuser of the brethren,” the devil, torments the unforgiving soul day and night.   An unforgiving person has a root of bitterness that defiles himself and others around him.  There is no peace for the unmerciful. Forgiveness and salvation are our greatest needs.  Jesus stated it plainly: “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”  (Matthew 6: 13-14).  There is no person or offense worth going to hell over. We have no resource within ourselves to forgive.  We must first receive God’s forgiveness before we can truly forgive others “from the heart.”  We must receive God’s love before we can truly love.  We must receive God’s mercy and grace before we can extend it to others.  Freely we have received, now freely we must give. (Matthew 10:8)   We can live in the realm of God’s grace, enjoying His presence and His peace. “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.           Mercy triumphs over judgment.”  (James 2: 13) “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12: 21)