Paradise Cafe Discussions - A Place For Bible Research And Christian Encouragement

Lord, how many times is my brother to sin against me and am I to forgive him? Up to seven times?--Matt. 18:21 ..... :rose: :rose:

As the account goes: :heartbeat: :rose: :rose:

''Then Peter came up and said to him:
''Lord, how many times is my brother to sin
against me and I am to forgive him? Up to
seven times?'' (21) :rose::rose:

Jesus said to him: '' I say to you, not,
Up to seven times, but, Up to seventy-seven times." :love: (22) :rose:

''that is why the kingdom of the heavens has become
like a man, a king, that wanted to settle accounts with
his slaves. (23) :rose:

''When he started to settle them, there was brought in a
man who owed him ten thousand talents (60,000,000 de-nar'i) (24)
:rose:

''But because he did not have the means to pay it back,
his master ordered him and his wife and his children and all
the things he had to be sold and payment to be made. (25) :rose:

''Therefore the slave fell down and began to do obeisance
to him, saying:, ''Be patient with me and I will pay back
everything to you.' (26)

''Moved to pity at this, the master of that slave let him off
and canceled his debt. (27) :rose:

''But that slave went out and found one of his fellow
slaves that was owing him a hundred de-nar'i-i, and
grabbing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back
whatever you owe.' (28) :rose:

''Therefore his fellow slave fell down and began to
entreat him, saying, ''Be patient with me and I will
pay you back.' (30) :rose:

''However, he was not willing, but went off and had
him thrown into prison until he should pay back what
was owing.' (31) :rose:

''Then his master summoned him and said to him: 'Wicked slave,
I cancelled all that debt for you,* when you entreated me. ' (32) :rose:

''Ought you not, in turn, to have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had on you? '' (33) :rose:

''With that his master, provoked to wrath, delivered him to
the jailers,* until he should pay back all that was owing. (34)

''In like manner, my heavenly Father will also deal with you if
you do not forgive each one his brother from YOUR hearts.'' (35) :rose:

Very powerful lessons in this illustration. :rose: As verse 35 emphasizes forgiveness of others is a necessity for Christians..... :rose:

''Pay attention to yourselves. If your brother commits a sin
give him a rebuke, and if he repents forgive him.
Even if he sins seven times a day against you and he comes
back to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him.'
Luke 17: 3-4 ..... :rose: :rose:

''But become kind to one another, tenderly compasionate,
freely forgiving one another just as God also by Christ
freely forgave you.' Eph. 4:32 :rose:

''Continue putting up with one another and forgiving
one another freely if anyone has a cause for complaint
against another. Even as God freely forgave you, so do
YOU also.'' Col. 3:13 ... :rose: :rose:

and so it is laid upon us to be generous in forgiveness and make it a part of our personality. I believe it is tied in with understanding our own need for forgiveness and the precious gift that it is--a gift of God's grace. We too are to imitate that grace as a part of appreciation for our own gift of forgiveness. It shows we understand what has been freely given us and appreciate it. It is a Beautiful thing :rose: ..... This is something taken very seriously by God as we see not only in the illustration of Jesus but this scripture also..... :rose: :rose:

''For if you forgive men their trespasses, YOUR heavenly
Father will also forgive you; whereas if you do not forgive
men their trespasses neither will YOUR father forgive YOUR
trespasses.'' Matt. 6: 14-15 ..... :rose:

It is my personal belief that once we connect with our own
imperfect condition and realize the depth of need we have for forgiveness we don't withhold it from others simply because we
realize the broken condition we are all in--to one degree or another.
Even tho without a doubt there are times we have to really reach deep to find it :heartbeat: It is important :heartbeat: and it is good for you.... :rose: :rose:

''Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not
condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive
others, and you will be forgiven.'' Luke 6:37 .... :rose: :rose:

Thanks my dear :heartbeat: Sister Wolfie, for bringing up words from God's word on this essential matter in our life, to forgive sins commited againt us, especially needed when our offenders ask for forgiveness.

Jesus Our Master taught also to pray like this:
“‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. 10 Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth. 11 Give us today our bread for this day; 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the wicked one.’

May Our Father bless you, my sister
Brotherly affection Jan

I was thinking the very same, sis. I think it is a particular gift of the holy spirit to recognise and act upon forgiveness - and sometimes we have to fight against fighting against it! And yes, sometimes it doesn't seem to be a 'natural' feeling, but that just means it's something we need to pay attention to and cultivate - plant, water and tenderly care for as it grows. With 'practice', then, it's easier to cultivate forgiveness anywhere - even the most parched mental landscapes. If Jesus' yoke is to be light, then forgiveness must be a very good thing for you!:heartbeat:

Thanks so much for your lovely comments to the text daily, my dear sister - it means a LOT! :love:

:peace:

thank you both--Jan and Willa for your thoughts. :friends: Doesn't it feel like there is so much more than can be said on this subject? Or is it just me ready to go on and on--and on :love: :heartbeat:

love you guys :heartbeat: :friends: