We all know people like Peter, who blurts out whatever’s on their mind. I find these friends refreshing because they say what I’m thinking but afraid to put into words.

Peter questioned Jesus about how many times he needed to forgive a brother or sister who sinned against him. Peter thought seven was generous. Jesus upped the ante with seventy-seven (some translators prefer the phrase seventy times seven). Then Jesus told a parable to press home his argument.

In the story a master grants forgiveness to his servant for a monster debt. The servant turns around and punishes a man who owes him a minor debt (Jesus tells the story much better than me, I suggest you read his words). The master punishes the wicked servant for his lack of mercy by turning him over to the jailers to be tortured.

Then Jesus caps the lesson with this line: This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.

Am I reading the correctly? Did Jesus draw the connection between torture and my lack of forgiveness? The more I consider it the more I want to avoid the thought—but there it is in black and white.

Forgiveness and mercy rank higher on the scale of attributes the Lord desires to develop in my life than I perceive. If I’m to forgive as it appears I should, I need the work of the Holy Spirit to move me forward. I cannot gut it out on my own.

Pull out the bitter root. Kill those grudges you nurse. Ask the Lord to point them out to you. He will, and it’s won’t be pretty. But in doing so you and I avoid the consequences of a lack of mercy.

Forgiveness also brings at least one wonderful benefit. As we follow through on the Holy Spirit’s promptings and forgive, our souls transform, settle, grow quieter. We develop into the type of people who bless those around us. We hear the Lord more clearly the next time we need to forgive.

Matthew 18 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Emily Wade