Forgiveness

Last night our family hosted our “Peacemakers Study” at our house.

At the end of watching the video, we discussed “forgiveness”. After watching the video, I realized just how much forgiveness impacts someone’s life.
A couple years ago, my brother and I had a fight, and I was so mad at him. I don’t normally hold a grudge for very long, but I was so upset with what “he” did, that I didn't even realize what “I” did. Later that night as I was picking him up from his police explorers, a song came on the radio called, “7 times 70” by Chris August. The song went on to talk about forgiving someone over and over again. I started to cry, as I realized that it wasn't him, it was “me”. God brought it to my heart to forgive my brother for what he did, but to
repent for what I did. 

I looked at Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary for the definition of forgiveness. Here is what I found:

     FORGIVENESS:

1. The act of forgiving; the pardon of an offender, by which he is considered and treated as not guilty. The forgiveness of enemies is a Christian duty.2. The pardon or remission of an offense or crime; as the forgiveness of sin or of injuries.3. Disposition to pardon; willingness to forgive. And mild forgiveness intercedes to stop the coming blow.4. Remission of a debt, fine or penalty.

Matthew 18:21-35

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’  So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’  But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I
had mercy on you?’ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to
the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly
Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not
forgive his brother from your heart.”