What happens to us or others that there is a need for forgiveness? There are three elements involved: a trespass; a debt; and the release of the debt.
Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
1. TRESPASS Matthew 18:35; Mark 11:25, 26; Luke 17:3 – It is a transgression of God’s moral Law (1 John 3:4) and righteousness (1 John 5:7); it is a sin clearly defined in Scripture. Someone has sinned against us. The trespass causes hurt, injury, pain, or offense causing one to stumble or be hindered in their walk. It is not about likes, dislikes, or preferences. It is not what “seems like,” or “I think,” or hearsay but a definite act that misses the mark of God’s moral standards. You may not like what someone said, did, or failed to do (we all have our own likes, opinions, and preferences) but did they actually violate a clear standard in Scripture? You should be able to say, “This was wrong because the Word of God says ….”
2. DEBT Matthew 18:27, 30, 32 – Debt represents an obligation or what is owed. A debt occurs that causes an offense when either something should have been done that was not done (neglected/ommitted) or something should not have been done that was done (an act committed). It creates a “You owe me,” “… pay me what thou owest,” between you and the other person or the existence of something that needs reconciled. The debt binds you to that person in your thinking. Forgiveness can unbind us and restore our mental and emotional health.
3. RELEASE (forgiveness) – Matthew 18:27, 32, 35; Mark 11:25, 26; Luke 17:3, 4 – Forgiveness is release of the debt or obligation. Forgiveness is an act of compassion, mercy, and loosing (dismissing, letting go of, pardoning) the debt. Forgiveness is needed very often because they can’t pay the debt or undo what they did. Unless the debt is cancelled, the charges dropped, an unreconciled state will continue to exist. Forgiveness is releasing them from our personal judgment (we will quit bringing the case before our mind rehearsing how right we are and how wrong they were), personal vengeance (our plotting and planning to pay back evil for evil or to get even), and personal predictions (things we say or wish will happen to them to punish them).
Some things that hurt us just need to be released, dropped and not give attention to; they aren’t worth getting emotionally upset about and consuming our thought life and time. Just keep walking in love and forgiveness.
There are other things that hurt us that need confronted in a Biblical way (Matthew 18:15-17) to not only help us release an offence but also to keep the offender from hurting others.
Our relationship to the Father couldn’t exist or continue without forgiveness from Him. Through forgiveness, our relationship is maintained. In like manner, we need forgiveness to maintain our relationship to our mate, children, brothers, sisters, etc. Forgiveness has the power to release us from our past and reverse our position from being victimized to experiencing victory. We also need to forgive because we need forgiveness ourselves in our own life for our trespasses. There is accountability to the King in the Kingdom of Heaven for forgiveness amongst the brethren. All Believers need to grow in learning to forgive even as God has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). We as humans put limitations on how far forgiveness can go. Our forgiveness is to extend to the full measure of mercy extended to us by God.
Pastor John Rasicci is the founder and Pastor of Word of His Grace Church in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where we are building people who are building the Church. Pastor's ministry mission is to help people discover God's dream for their Life, the Local Church, and the Last Days' Harvest. With a strong emphasis on the grace of God and with a prophetic voice, Pastor John preaches and teaches in churches, conferences, and crusades both locally and throughout the world. He has produced books, tapes, and other teaching materials to empower, enable, and equip Believers with the Word of God. Pastor John is married to his wife Candy who with their three children, Krista, Joanna, John Anthony, and two son-in-laws, Matt and Doug, serve together in the ministry. After graduating from Kent State University, Pastor John pursued a career in professional baseball before accepting the call to the ministry. He and his wife, Candy, received their ministry training from Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
John Rasicci 
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