THE PARABLE OF THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant is a story that Jesus told to illustrate the importance of forgiveness. In the parable, a servant whose master has forgiven a large debt is unwilling to forgive a smaller debt owed to him by another servant. When the master learns of this, he punishes the unforgiving servant. The story’s point is that we should forgive others because God has forgiven us.

Six main points can be gleaned from the parable:

• Forgiveness is important
• We should forgive others because God has forgiven us
• Unforgiveness leads to punishment
• Forgiveness is an act of mercy
• Forgiveness shows humility
• Forgiveness is an act of love

The Importance of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is important because it is an essential part of the Christian faith. Christ himself said we must forgive others if we want to be forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15). In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus clarifies that forgiveness is not optional but something we are expected to do.

Forgiveness is so important because it is an act of mercy. When we forgive someone, we show them compassion and understanding. We are saying that we are willing to let go of the hurt and pain that they have caused us. This is not always easy, but it is always the right thing to do.

We Should Forgive Others Because God Has Forgiven Us

One of the main reasons why we should forgive others is because God has forgiven us. We have all sinned and fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23). God, in His mercy, has forgiven us for our sins. He has washed us clean and made us new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Because God has forgiven us, we are called to forgive others.

This does not mean that we should excuse others’ bad behavior. Forgiveness does not mean we forget what they have done or allow them to keep hurting us. But it does mean we are willing to let go of our anger and resentment toward them. We are eager to start fresh and move on from the hurt that they have caused us.

Unforgiveness Leads to Punishment

In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, the unforgiving servant is punished by his master because unforgiveness leads to punishment. When we refuse to forgive others, we essentially say we do not deserve forgiveness. We are saying we are better than God because we are unwilling to forgive as He has forgiven us.

This attitude of unforgiveness will only lead to more pain and suffering in our lives. It will cause us to miss out on God’s blessings of forgiveness. So, instead of accepting unforgiveness, we must let it go and allow God to work in our lives.

Forgiveness Is an Act of Mercy

As we have seen, forgiveness is an act of mercy. When we forgive someone, we are showing them compassion and understanding. We are saying that we are willing to let go of the hurt and pain that they have caused us. This is not always easy, but it is always the right thing to do.

Forgiveness is also an act of humility. When we forgive someone, we admit that we have been wronged and the other person has hurt us. But we also say we will relinquish our pride and forgive them anyway. This takes a lot of humility, but it is something that we are called to do as Christians.

Forgiveness Shows Humility

As we have seen, forgiveness is an act of humility. When we forgive someone, we admit that we have been wronged and the other person has hurt us. But we also say we will relinquish our pride and forgive them anyway. This takes a lot of humility, but it is something that we are called to do as Christians.

Forgiveness also shows love. When we forgive someone, we say we love them enough to let go of the hurt and pain they caused us. We are saying we will start fresh and move on from the hurt they caused us. This is not always easy, but it is always worth it.

Forgiveness is important because it is an essential part of the Christian faith. Christ himself said we must forgive others if we want to be forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15). In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus clarifies that forgiveness is not optional but something we are expected to do.

So, instead of holding onto all our grudges and resentment, we must let them go and allow God to work in our lives. Forgiveness is not always easy, but it is always worth it.

Remember: FORGIVENESS IS NOT FOR OTHER PEOPLE. IT’S FOR YOU. IN ORDER TO HAVE PEACE AND CONTINUE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE IN HARMONY WITH ONE ANOTHER. DO NOT DRINK THE POISON OF UNFORGIVENESS.