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Read and Reflect

Jesus had quite a bit to say about resentment and forgiveness.  Where do you find yourself in this parable?  Can you fully experience the gift of being forgiven if you do not forgive others?  

Study

Matthew 18:21-35 

Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive?  As many as seven times?”  Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.  For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.  When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made.  So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’  And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 

But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’  Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’  But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt.  When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.  Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’  And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt.  So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” 

Pray

Let us pray: 

Lord God, seeing and knowing every mean thing I have ever done, all the ways I have neglected the care of your people and your creation, all the broken places in my relationships, my gross sin of commission and omission — yet you forgive me anyway.  In the face of such a gift, how I can keep from having compassion on those who have wronged me?  Remove from me every place of anger, every repetition of pain, every replayed conversation or hurtful action.  Free me from the poison of resentment, here and now.  I pray in the name of the one who could count our sin, but chooses to forget it, Jesus Christ our Lord, 

Amen. 

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