Forgiving as the Lord Forgives

“Forgiving as the Lord Forgives”

Reflection on Matthew 18:21-19:1

In Matthew 18:21–19:1, Peter approaches Jesus with a question that many of us may have silently asked: “Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As many as seven times?” Peter probably thought he was being generous; in Jewish tradition, forgiving someone three times was already considered enough. But Jesus responds, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” In other words, forgiveness in the Kingdom of God has no limit.

Jesus then tells the parable of the unforgiving servant. This servant owed the king an unpayable debt—ten thousand talents, a sum so great that no lifetime could repay it. Moved with compassion, the king forgave him entirely. But that same servant went out, found a fellow servant who owed him a much smaller amount, and refused to forgive. When the king heard of this, he was angered and handed the unforgiving servant over to be punished. Jesus ends with a serious reminder: “So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”

This passage reveals two truths. First, we are the servant who has been forgiven an unpayable debt—our sins. Through the cross, God has erased what we could never repay. Second, because we have been forgiven much, we are called to forgive others freely, not grudgingly or partially, but “from the heart.” Forgiveness is not pretending nothing happened; it’s releasing the other person from the debt of vengeance we feel they owe us, entrusting the matter to God.

Forgiving repeatedly, even for deep wounds, is one of the most difficult acts of discipleship. It doesn’t mean tolerating abuse or injustice—boundaries are still important—but it does mean refusing to let bitterness have the last word. The Lord invites us to remember how lavishly He has forgiven us, so that we can let mercy flow through us to others. And when we struggle, we can ask the Holy Spirit for the grace to take the first step toward reconciliation, even if the healing is gradual.

Key Takeaway:
We have been forgiven an unpayable debt by God; therefore, our call is to forgive others without limit, letting mercy—not resentment—define our relationships.