Unforgiveness Unites One with Unforgiving Consequences (Part 2)
“And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.” - Matthew 18:34-35 (KJV)
Often times we see God through rose-colored glasses as opposed to biblical lenses. It’s challenging to consider the concept that God chastises those that He loves and punishes those that reject His word and authority. He is HOLY. And because He is Holy, His opinion on all sin is never interpreted as an oversight committed by the careless but a transgression against the Law of God (1 John 3:4).
It is a major mistake when we make light of sin and defend disobedience. Sin will always invite an immediate consequence. Can you believe that God’s response to unforgiveness is so serious?
In our text for consideration, the Lord Jesus taught that if we do not extend forgiveness to others we will be delivered over to the tormentors! In Matthew 18:21-35, the Lord used a question presented by Peter about how often we should forgive those that have sin against us. The Lord’s position on forgiveness purges our perception and prohibits us from having a set number of how many times that we should forgive someone or personal conditions on forgiveness. He also presents the punishment that the unforgiving will be sure to experience.
The most egregious element of unforgiveness is that it is selfish. And when self is in the seat of decision making, it never chooses what God wants. It grieves and quenches the Spirit. Consequently, you don’t have the legs of grace to stand on and you are left crippled in resentment, bound in the bonds of bitterness. It also invites an incessant indifference toward intimacy with God.
Jesus said, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” Matthew 6:14-15.
Now, I ask you, could the Lord Jesus Christ be any clearer?
Forgiving people is our DNA as Christians! It is what Jesus would do!
The next blog, we will visit, who are and what are the Tormentors? Until then…
NOT A SERMON BUT A THOUGHT
- PBKSr.