"So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."
Matthew 18:35
This is at the end of the story of the man who owed ten thousand talents, which is in response to Peter's question about how often we should forgive someone. Jesus corrects Peter, explaining that he is guessing way too low with the idea of seven... it should be more like seventy times that. I don't think that Christ was giving us an exact number here, and he used a story to explain.
The person in the story owes his local ruler an overwhelming amount and just can't pay it, so he is sentenced to become an indentured servant along with his whole family until he can pay it off (and with the amount, it would probably take most of his life). He falls down begging for mercy, and is granted mercy and the debt forgiven. Then he turns around and refuses to forgive the debt for someone who owes him like, comparatively, just a dollar, and when that is reported to the local ruler, he throws the guy to the "tormentors" who I am assuming are debt collectors in a very old-school, physically threatening way.
This verse illustrates the spiritual position that we are in when we don't forgive someone else. Compared to what we owe to God, and have been forgiven, all other debts are lesser. I realize that some are exceedingly serious and not to be brushed off as though they were nothing, but God still asks that we forgive, because holding on to anger and pain will harm us, and it is His job to handle it, and make the judgement, not ours. He will make all things right in the end... which doesn't mean that everyone gets what they deserve. We all will get much better than we necessarily deserve, but part of repentance means that we also need to change into the type of people who wouldn't make those same mistakes again.
Today, let's remember to forgive from our hearts, and also repent and work with God on changing into better people.
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