“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will Your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25-26)
“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth to you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourself, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-21)
“Vengeance is Mine, and recompense. Their foot shall slip in due time…” (Deut. 32-35)
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” (Romans 13:1-4)
“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven.
“Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
“But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desirest me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
“So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” (Matthew 18:21-35)
The 10,000 talents the servant owed was most likely 600,000 times more than the 100 denarii his fellow servant owed. Consider R. S. Kennedy’s calculation to portray the vast difference between the two debts. If the 100 denarii debt were paid in small silver coins, it could be carried in a person’s pocket.
The 10,000 talents debt, however, would require an army of 8,600 carriers, each lugging 60 pounds (approaching 30 kilos) of coins. If each of these carriers walked in single file a yard (or a meter) apart, the line would stretch for five miles (8.6 kilometres)!
Jesus used the sum of 10,000 talents to portray an almost unimaginably enormous debt. It is commonly pointed out that in Jesus’ time the total annual revenue of the province consisting of Idumaea, Judea and Sumaria was only 600 talents.
Jesus is not unmindful, however, of how much we can be hurt. The smaller debt was not insignificant. A labourer would work a full 12 hour day to gross just 1% of it. Since people have to live off their wage, it could take years for someone to pay off this smaller, more manageable debt.
To truly forgive someone, we need to be able, from our heart, to ask God not just to forgive them, as Jesus did, but also to bless them.
Although at first it can be very difficult to forgive someone who has hurt us or someone we love, perhaps very deeply, it is the only way we can find peace and become more like Jesus and more in God’s image, as God has had to forgive us, and will continue to forgive us.
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Persecution Live 