Text: Matthew 18:26-27 NKJV
Further Reading: Matthew 18:23-35
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 18:26-27 NKJV
MESSAGE
Can unforgiveness send someone to hell? Do you mean God will not allow me into heaven because I did not forgive someone who deeply offended me? But I am doing other things for God and I even avoid any sinful lifestyle may be your query. The obvious truth is that God will not hold any person guiltless who fails to forgive others.
The Bible is explicit and clear on this, Jesus said: But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:15 NKJV
Getting to heaven is not a smooth ride, the Lord told us that only a few will make it in the end.
Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:14 NKJV
Those who travel on the broad way can do so with the baggage of unforgiveness, malice, and others, but any pilgrim who will make it home, at last, cannot afford to do so.
Our reading of the day began by showing us one of the requirements to enter into the Kingdom of heaven. Any person who fails to forgive others will be damned in the end. This is one of the unshakable standards of God.
The message was written for we believers who have been forgiven much. We must be like our Father by forgiving our fellow men and it must be practical. Think about how much you have been forgiven, and all the things that Christ did for you. Is there anything anyone should do to you that you should not forgive? However hard it may be, you cannot afford to go to hell because of unforgiveness.
That servant who refused to forgive and pardon the debt of his fellow servant got into trouble and the eternal verdict over his life was damnation. Here was God’s judgment over that unforgiving servant:
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 18:34-35 NKJV
REFLECTION
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
Matthew 5:7 NKJV
Only those who do not want God’s mercy will fail to show mercy to others. As long as you want to keep enjoying the mercies of God, you must show mercy and forgive men from your heart.
PRAYER
Father, please help me to be merciful and give me the grace to forgive those who have hurt me in the past.
