For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
To think that we earn God’s forgiveness by forgiving others would be a faulty idea. As we have earlier discussed, it is because God has forgiven us that He expects us to forgive others. In fact, unless God forgives our debt (sin), it is too great that we cannot afford. But all who accepts God’s provision through Jesus Christ will receive mercy and forgiveness for all their sin. Therefore, when He pours mercy upon us, God expects us to be the channel by which it flows into other people’s life.
So, however free God’s mercy is, a merciful disposition towards our fellow creatures is necessary for its enjoyment.
Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant, therefore, fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
Matthew 18:23-27 NKJV
It is important to note again how great the servant’s debt was. Even if he were to be sold with all his family and all that he had, it would still not be sufficient for his debt. Similarly, even if we had to die for our sins, we would not have been able to pay the price for our forgiveness. But thanks be to God, who has been merciful to us. So, just like the servant, the Father has forgiven us in Christ Jesus.
Those who do not forgive others should never sin themselves
But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.”
Matthew 18:28-30 NKJV
Unfortunately, we also act like this ungrateful and forgetful servant. His fellow servant, someone of equal status to him, owed him something that was inconsequential in comparison to his own debt. He had the opportunity of extending the same mercy he had received unto this ‘lesser debtor’. But, he threw him into prison and demanded full payment. The truth is that there is no one who is a ‘greater sinner’ to you than you are to God. Therefore, there’s no justification why you who have been forgiven in Jesus should not forgive those who sin against you.
Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
Matthew 18:32-35 NKJV
Hence, the inescapable consequences of lacking mercy and unforgiveness manifest. The servant, despite earlier receiving forgiveness from his master, now faces full payment. However, the crucial point of emphasis lies in Jesus’ concluding statement: “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” There is no ambiguity – if you fail to forgive others, your Father will withhold forgiveness for your own sins. Rest assured that on the day of judgment, the same standard applies, for “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive…”
