Forgive To Be Free

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 fellowservants, 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 fellowservant 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 fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, 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 (KJV)

This was a story Jesus told about a man who owed much but his debt was forgiven by a king. This same man found someone who owed him very little. He did not forgive him but had him cast into prison. The man who didn’t forgive his fellow servant of the small debt owed to him was brought again before His Lord. What he had done had been reported. Because of his refusal to forgive his fellow man, he was delivered to the tormentors, the torturers, until his debt was paid.

Jesus used this story to point out that our Heavenly Father will do the same to us if we do not forgive our brethren from our hearts. God has forgiven us of all our sin debt, and he expects us to do the same for others. When we don’t, this gives the enemy legal access to torment us and steal our peace. It makes our lives a prison.

If you have struggled with something and cannot seem to get free, check to see if there is unforgiveness that you are holding onto. What we hold against someone is held against us. We must forgive in order to be forgiven. The debt of unforgiveness makes us slaves to hatred, selfishness, and lack of compassion. Then we wonder why we have problems that never seem to totally go away.

To be free from the tormentors, giving the enemy no access to our lives, we must forgive from our hearts- no matter what someone has done to us and even if they don’t ask to be forgiven. Regardless of the debt that it seems someone owes you and no matter how big the offense they’ve committed, let it go, forgive, get free, and move on.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Matthew 6:12-13 (KJV) emphasis mine

God will pay us back for all the wrong that’s been done to us. God will make up for any and all loss. We must trust Him. Our job is to forgive, and God’s job is to make things right. As our hearts are right with God, He will make things right for us, and everything will turn out right. As we forgive, we are forgiven and set free. Forgiveness brings freedom.