Forgive One Another Freely - WHY WE NEED TO BE FORGIVING

A willingness to forgive those who offend us-whether they are members of the Christian congregation or  not-is essential if we are to maintain peaceful relations with family members, friends, fellow humans, and Jehovah.  The Scriptures indicate that a willingness to forgive others regardless of how often they  offend us is Christian  requirement. In order to illustrate the reasonableness of this requirement, Jesus used an illustration about a slave who was a debtor. 

The slave owed his master the equivalent of a laborer's wages for 60,000,000 days; yet, his master cancelled the debt.  Thereafter, the slave went out and found a fellow slave who owed him a sum that amounted to only 100 days' wages. The debtor pleaded for patience, but the slave who had been forgiven a huge debt had his fellow slave thrown into prison. That attitude angered   their master."  Ought you to have mercy on your fellow slave, as I also had mercy on you?"  the master asked. "With that his master, provoked to wrath, delivered [the unforgiving  slave ] to the jailers, until he should pay back  all that was owing." - MATTHEW 18:21-34.

What point did Jesus make with this illustration?  His conclusion was:  "In like manner my heavenly Father will also deal with you if you do not forgive each one his brother from your hearts." (Matthew 18:35)  Jesus' point is clear. The sins we have committed during a lifetime of imperfection give evidence that we are hopelessly unable to meet Jehovah's standards: Yet, he is willing to forgive us and to wipe the slate  clean, as it were.  Hence, anyone who desires Jehovah's friendship is obliged   to forgive the shortcomings of his fellow human.   Or as Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount:  "If you do not forgive  men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." - MATTHEW 6:14, 15.

'That all sounds fine in theory,' you might say,  'but it is easier said than done.' That is because reactions to personal offenses are often emotional. A person may feel anger, a sense of betrayal, the desire for justice or even revenge.  In fact, some feel that they will never be able to forgive the offender. If you feel similarly, how can you cultivate the forgiving attitude that Jehovah requires?

Next time: Forgive One Another Freely - ANALYZE YOUR EMOTIONS

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