In the course of living life together, individuals in the church will inevitably sin against each another. Part of our growth as Christians involves bearing with one another’s different sinful tendencies, and forgiving one another is paramount. In Matthew 18, verses 21-35, Jesus concludes this sermon on how to love one another with a strong exhortation of the absolute necessity for the Christian to forgive. The illustration of the unmerciful servant in our text reveals that forgiveness is so essential to our faith, that if we do not extend it to others, then we will find ourselves under God’s judgment. This parable stands as a warning to those in the church to examine themselves for the damning sin of unforgiveness. This text, along with parallel teaching from the apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13, reveals that extending forgiveness to others is a behavior that comes as a result of the heart-change that we receive when we are forgiven our massive sin debt by Christ. It is with an overwhelming sense of gratitude then, that the Christian’s life becomes defined by charitable forgiveness.
