A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

YOU FORGIVE BECAUSE GOD FIRST FORGIVES YOU     

Matthew 18:28-30 “. . . when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ “But he refused.” 

You talk about someone being ungrateful. The first servant had been forgiven a huge debt and avoided incarceration in debtors’ prison along with his wife and children. For whatever reason, this man became aware of a fellow servant who owed him about seventeen cents in 2025 money. Forgiven a debt of millions and millions of dollars, he totally threw the book at his fellow servant having him and his family thrown into debtors’ prison until the seventeen cents was repaid. 

Yes, this was a parable. It was a fictitious story. Jesus told this story as a teaching lesson for His followers. They struggled with granting forgiveness to their fellow disciples. Oh, they were willing to forgive once or twice, or for Peter seven times, but there was a limit. 

Jesus was pointing out the unlimited forgiveness the disciples received from Yahweh. God’s love was the motivation for forgiving. He desired Jesus’ followers to be forgiven of all their sins in order that they could also receive the gift of eternal life in heaven. The number of their sins, the immensity of their sins, the heartache and trouble their sins caused was never too much for their heavenly Father to still in love offer them forgiveness.   

In the same way Yahweh, out of His unconditional love, forgave the disciples in spite of their sins. They in turn, filled with God’s love, were given the capacity to forgive their fellow human beings. In the same way, your forgiveness of your brother and sister flows from the love and forgiveness you have received from your heavenly Father. You forgive because He first forgave you. 

Prayer: Father, fill me with Your love and forgiveness for my own sins but also that I am able to forgive those who sin against me. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

“Forgive our sins as we forgive,”  
You taught us, Lord, to pray:  
But You alone can grant us grace  
To live the words we say. 

How can Your pardon reach and bless  
The unforgiving heart  
That broods on wrongs and will not let  
Old bitterness depart. 

In blazing light Your cross reveals  
The truth we dimly knew;  
What trivial debts are owed to us,  
How great our debt to You! 

Lord, cleanse the depths within our souls  
And bid resentment cease;  
Then, bound to all in bonds of love,  
Our lives will spread Your peace.  

"Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive" // LSB 843