“‘你央求我，我就把你所欠的都免了。你不应当怜恤你的同伴，像我怜恤你吗？’” - 太 18:32

被人冒犯受到深深的伤害，是要透过时间来医治，才能够放得下。

在耶稣的比喻中，不肯饶恕人的仆人欠了大笔的债，然而王怜悯他，免了他的债。这个人就是你和我的代表。在我们还作罪人的时候，基督为我们死，来偿还我们背叛神的罪债（罗马书 5:8-11）。我们已被释放得自由了！

身为犯罪记录已被抹去的人，我们是否可以转过来饶恕得罪我们的人呢？饶恕人说起来容易，但做起来却很难，我们往往被世人告知，要争取我们的权利、有仇必报、要与伤害我们的人断绝关系，就显得尤其难做了。在受虐或危险的情况下，我们是需要顾及安全的，但是怀恨在心不肯放手，只会令自己加倍痛苦。

曾经有一个人差不多毁了我一生，事过多年，我才能够在人面前告诉他，是神帮助我饶恕他的。为了回应神的恩典，我又岂能不这样做呢？

饶恕就是爱我们的邻舍。饶恕表示放下我们的自尊。饶恕的意味着信靠神在掌控结果。

（BMB）

祷告

耶稣啊，你明白被人出卖的痛苦。然而在十字架上时，你赦免那些把你钉死的人。惟愿我们得蒙你的恩典，又把你的恩典彰显出来。求你免我们的债，如同我们免了人的债。阿们。

马太福音 18:21-35

21那时，彼得进前来，对耶稣说：“主啊，我弟兄得罪我，我当饶恕他几次呢？到七次可以吗？”
22耶稣说：“我对你说，不是到七次，乃是到七十个七次。
23天国好像一个王要和他仆人算帐。
24才算的时候，有人带了一个欠一千万银子的来。
25因为他没有什么偿还之物，主人吩咐把他和他妻子儿女并一切所有的都卖了偿还。
26那仆人就俯伏拜他，说：‘主啊，宽容我！将来我都要还清。’
27那仆人的主人就动了慈心，把他释放了，并且免了他的债。
28“那仆人出来，遇见他的一个同伴欠他十两银子，便揪着他，掐住他的喉咙，说：‘你把所欠的还我！’
29他的同伴就俯伏央求他，说：‘宽容我吧！将来我必还清。’
30他不肯，竟去把他下在监里，等他还了所欠的债。
31众同伴看见他所做的事，就甚忧愁，去把这事都告诉了主人。
32于是主人叫了他来，对他说：‘你这恶奴才！你央求我，我就把你所欠的都免了。
33你不应当怜恤你的同伴，像我怜恤你吗？’
34主人就大怒，把他交给掌刑的，等他还清了所欠的债。
35你们各人若不从心里饶恕你的弟兄，我天父也要这样待你们了。”

Contagious Forgiveness

“I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” - Matthew 18:32

Some offenses are so deeply hurtful that it can take time and healing to be ready to let them go.

In Jesus’ parable, the debt that the unforgiving servant had built up was a huge one, yet the king had compassion and released him of all obligation. That guy represents you and me. While we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us, to pay the debt for all our sin against God (Romans 5:8-11). We have been set free!

As people who have been given a clean slate, can we, in turn, forgive others who have sinned against us? That’s much easier said than done, especially when the world tells us to stand up for our rights, get revenge, and cut ties with anyone who hurts us. In cases of abuse or danger, we do need to maintain safety, but to hold on to hatred makes us miserable.

There was a man who nearly destroyed my life. It took many years before I could tell him, in the presence of others, that God has helped me to forgive him. In response to God’s grace, how could I not do that?

Forgiveness means loving our enemies. Forgiveness means swallowing our pride. Forgiveness means trusting God with the outcome.

(BMB)

Prayer

Jesus, you understand the pain of betrayal. Yet from the cross, you forgave those who hung you there to die. May we inhale and exhale grace. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Amen.