Matthew 18:35
“So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
Context:Matthew 18:35 is the concluding verse of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. In this parable, Jesus addresses the issue of forgiveness within the community of believers.
In the parable, a servant owed an enormous debt to his master, which he was unable to repay. The master, filled with compassion, forgave the servant’s debt entirely. However, the servant then encountered a fellow servant who owed him a much smaller amount. Despite receiving mercy, the servant refused to show the same mercy and instead had his fellow servant thrown into prison. When the master heard of this, he was angry and handed the unforgiving servant over to the tormentors until he could repay his original debt.
The Message of the Parable:This parable emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and mercy in the lives of believers. The servant’s enormous debt symbolizes the weight of sin and the forgiveness that God offers freely to humanity. However, the servant’s lack of forgiveness towards his fellow servant demonstrates an ungrateful and unmerciful attitude. It reveals that those who have received forgiveness from God should also extend forgiveness to others.
The Meaning of Matthew 18:35:Jesus states, “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” This statement highlights the seriousness of unforgiveness. Jesus warns that just as the master handed the unforgiving servant over to tormentors, God will also deal severely with those who refuse to forgive others.
The Heart of Forgiveness:Notice that Jesus emphasizes forgiveness “from your hearts.” This means that forgiveness should not be merely a superficial or outward act but should originate from a genuine change of heart. True forgiveness involves releasing the offender from the debt they owe us and harboring no resentment or bitterness toward them.
The Call to Forgive:Jesus’ statement in Matthew 18:35 serves as a reminder and a command to believers. It highlights the seriousness of harboring unforgiveness and the need to continually extend forgiveness to others. Christians are called to imitate the mercy and forgiveness of God, recognizing the depth of the forgiveness they have received and extending it to their fellow brothers and sisters.
The Consequences of Unforgiveness:This verse also highlights the consequence of failing to forgive. Just as the unforgiving servant faced severe punishment, those who refuse to forgive can experience spiritual and emotional torment. Unforgiveness hinders our relationship with God, disrupts unity within the community, and burdens us with bitterness and resentment.
God’s Expectation:God desires His children to be forgiving, showing mercy and compassion to others as He has shown to us. Jesus’ teachings on forgiveness reflect the principles of the Lord’s Prayer, where believers ask God to “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).
