This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
Today, we look at a new parable. This one is on the power of forgiveness.
(Matthew 18:21-35 TPT)
21 Later Peter approached Jesus and said, “How many times do I have to forgive my fellow believer who keeps offending me? Seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “Not seven times, Peter, but seventy times seven times!
23 The lessons of forgiveness in heaven’s kingdom realm can be illustrated like this: “There once was a king who had servants who had borrowed money from the royal treasury. He decided to settle accounts with each of them.
24 As he began the process, it came to his attention that one of his servants owed him one billion dollars. So he summoned the servant before him and said to him, ‘Pay me what you owe me.’
25 When his servant was unable to repay his debt, the king ordered that he be sold as a slave along with his wife and children and every possession they owned as payment toward his debt.
26 The servant threw himself facedown at his master’s feet and begged for mercy. ‘Please be patient with me. Just give me more time and I will repay you all that I owe.’
27 Upon hearing his pleas, the king had compassion on his servant, and released him, and forgave his entire debt.
28 “No sooner had the servant left when he met one of his fellow servants, who owed him twenty thousand dollars He seized him by the throat and began to choke him, saying, ‘You’d better pay me right now everything you owe me!’
29 His fellow servant threw himself facedown at his feet and begged, ‘Please be patient with me. If you’ll just give me time, I will repay you all that is owed.’
30 But the one who had his debt forgiven stubbornly refused to forgive what was owed him. He had his fellow servant thrown into prison and demanded he remain there until he repaid the debt in full.
31″When his associates saw what was going on, they were outraged and went to the king and told him the whole story.
32 The king said to him, ‘You scoundrel! Is this the way you respond to my mercy? Because you begged me, I forgave you the massive debt that you owed me.
33 Why didn’t you show the same mercy to your fellow servant that I showed to you?’
34 In a fury of anger, the king turned him over to the prison guards to be tortured until all his debt was repaid.
35 In this same way, my heavenly Father will deal with any of you if you do not release forgiveness from your heart toward your fellow believer.”
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Forgiveness as a Reflection of God’s Sovereignty.
— Recognizing that God has a plan and that, ultimately, justice and recompense belong to Him helps us release the need for personal vengeance.
— Forgiveness is an act of faith, entrusting justice to God’s perfect judgment.
— Forgiveness acknowledges that God can bring good out of even the most painful situations, so you trust God to do what only He can do.
— Surrendering our hurts to God allows Him to work healing and restoration.
— Forgiveness is a declaration that our trust is in God’s plan, not in our ability to exact retribution.
— It frees us from the burden of being the judge and jury over others’ actions.
— Through forgiveness, we honor God’s command to love and leave the outcomes in His hands.
2. Forgiveness as a Path to Personal Freedom.
— Unforgiveness is a self-imposed prison; forgiveness sets us free.
— Holding onto grudges binds us to the past; forgiveness opens the door to the future.
— It’s hard to LAY HOLD of what God has for you next if you cannot LET GO of the past.
— Forgiveness is a choice that leads to emotional and spiritual healing and liberation.
— Forgiveness is not about condoning the offense but about releasing its hold over us (our present and our future).
— Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves more than to the offender.
— The act of forgiving is an act of reclaiming our power and peace.
— Through forgiveness, we break the cycle of pain and bitterness.
3. The Role of Forgiveness in Spiritual Growth.
— Forgiveness is a key component in our spiritual maturation.
— It develops qualities like compassion, patience, and understanding.
— Forgiveness is a reflection of our growth in Christ-like character. We are to forgive others as God forgave us.
— It’s an exercise in humility and reliance on God’s strength.
— Forgiveness is a step towards embodying the fullness of Christ’s love.
— When we genuinely forgive, we take an incremental step towards becoming more and more like Jesus.
— When Jesus was on the cross, He saw people crying out, “Crucify Him!” Many of these people were the same ones crying out, “Hosanna! Hosanna!” just a few days before. But instead of calling down fire from heaven to destroy them, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them. They don’t even know what they are doing.” So, when we forgive, we are operating with Jesus’ heart in this world.
4. Navigating Forgiveness in Complex Situations.
— Some situations require ongoing forgiveness; it’s not always a one-time act.
— Forgiveness in cases of abuse or deep betrayal may require professional counseling and support.
— It’s important to seek God’s wisdom and guidance in complex situations.
— Forgiveness does not mean staying in harmful situations or relationships.
— Sometimes, the most loving action is to forgive from a distance.
— Forgiveness in these cases is a process, often requiring time and patience.
— God understands our struggles with forgiveness and offers His grace to help us through.
5. Forgiveness and the Journey of Emotional Healing.
— Forgiveness is often a crucial step in the process of emotional healing.
— It involves acknowledging the hurt and pain, not minimizing or denying it.
— Emotional healing may require time, and forgiveness can be part of that journey.
— It’s important to seek God’s comfort and healing as we work through the process of forgiving.
— Forgiveness does not invalidate our pain but helps us to heal from it.
— Sharing our journey of forgiveness and healing can be a powerful testimony to others.
6. The Balance of Forgiveness and Boundaries.
— Forgiveness does not equate to forgetting or ignoring the harm done.
— Setting boundaries is a form of self-care and wisdom in relationships.
— Jesus taught love and forgiveness, but He also practiced discernment in His relationships.
— Healthy boundaries enable us to interact with others from a position of strength and peace.
— Forgiveness with boundaries is not a contradiction; it’s a Biblical balance.
— We can extend grace while also being wise stewards of our emotional and spiritual well-being.
— One of the reasons why I feel led to teach about the difference between forgiveness and boundaries is because I have seen the devil manipulate people and cause them to wallow in guilt, shame, and condemnation after they have forgiven someone. Just because you forgive them doesn’t mean you have to let them back into your life or give them the same spot they had in your heart, giving them the same level of access.
— The more you mature in Christ, the more you will realize that some people will not like you and some people are not good for you. Therefore, while it is imperative that you do not harbor bitterness or unforgiveness in your heart towards them, it is also imperative that you seek the discernment of the Holy Spirit concerning what role they should have, if any, in your walk.
— If you don’t operate in divine discernment, the devil can manipulate you into holding on to toxic relationships just because “you are a Christian, and you are supposed to forgive.” Yes, you are required to forgive, but you are not required to give everyone access to your life.
— If you don’t have boundaries, the devil can run roughshod over your life by influencing others to steal your peace. So, please be quick to forgive while being led by the Holy Spirit concerning the people you give access to.
That’s enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me!
You have shown me the path of forgiveness. I acknowledge Your plan and trust in Your perfect judgment.
Today, I choose to release any chains of unforgiveness, bitterness, and resentment that have held me captive. I embrace the freedom that comes with forgiveness, knowing it is a reflection of Your character in my life.
By Your Spirit, You lead me in understanding the balance between forgiveness and setting healthy boundaries. You help me discern situations where I need to protect my heart while still extending Your grace.
I seek Your wisdom in navigating complex relationships, trusting that You will lead me to emotional healing and spiritual growth.
I declare that as I walk in forgiveness, I am growing in Christ-like character, embodying Your love and mercy in every aspect of my life.
You strengthen me, Father, to forgive as Jesus did, with a heart full of compassion and understanding. As Jesus is, so am I, in this world!
Living with this mindset, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
