After his very blunt counsel regarding the resolving of differences between brethren, the Lord used the opportunity to emphasize that there is an even better way through such difficulties: Let a man foster in his mind such a spirit of toleration and forgiveness that no offence is felt!
This is no easy solution. Human nature instinctively resents unfair or malicious actions. It is the most natural thing in the world to react badly to bad treatment, either in self-justification or to get one’s own back. But Jesus forbad all this in a brief warning that his disciples be ever on the alert against showing or even feeling resentment: “Take heed to yourselves.” In such an encounter it is natural enough to train an analytical spot-light on the faults of the offender rather than on one’s own almost equally reprehensible reactions. How important, therefore, so to cultivate such a sense of self-awareness as to be able to recognize immediately the storm signals in one’s own spirit.
In a very practical down-to-earth fashion, Jesus counselled: “If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.” Once again, the omission, by some of the modern versions, of the words: “against thee,” seems hardly to be warranted (note the context). Their inclusion appears to be required by the command to forgive. If the sin is against God or against my brother, what right have I to pronounce absolution?
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Author: Harry Whittaker
Keywords: unforgiving, debt, debtor, forgive, forgiveness
Bible reference(s): Matt. 18:21-35, Luke 17:3, Luke 17:4
Source: Studies in the Gospels.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.