Blog Post
Posted by Dion Todd February 9th, 2025 1,108 Views 25 Comments
Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?' His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds." Matthew 18:32–35 WEB.
When Peter asked how many times he should forgive a person in one day, Jesus said seventy-seven times (or 70 x 7 = 490, depending on your translation). The Pharisees believed not more than three. Jesus then told them a parable about two men in debt to a King. We will call them Kevin and Harry.
Now, Kevin owed the King 10,000 talents. A talent then was the highest currency unit, and ten thousand was the highest Greek numeral. This would be like a billion dollars. When Kevin couldn't pay it, the King ordered everything Kevin had to be sold to recover some of it. So Kevin fell to the ground before the King and begged him to show mercy. Kevin's pleading touched the King, and he had compassion for him. So the King canceled Kevin's debt and freed him and his family from it.
Harry, the second man in the parable, owed Kevin one-hundred denarii. That is about twenty dollars. Now that is one-six-hundred-thousandth of the debt Kevin previously owed the King. Yet, rather than forgive his debt, Kevin wanted to make Harry pay. So he had Harry put in prison until he could pay back every penny of the twenty dollars.
When word of this got back to the King, he became so upset that he had Kevin arrested and thrown in prison. The King handed Kevin over to the torturers until he could pay back the billion dollars he owed him.
So both men wound up in prison because only the one who held the debt could release them from it. The King couldn't legally release Harry, who owed the twenty dollars, for it was a legitimate debt Harry owed. Kevin was the only one who could free Harry from it. Yet, if Kevin had released Harry, then the King would have released Kevin. That's how forgiveness works.
Jesus said: "Forgive, and you will be forgiven." (Luke 6:37). "And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us" (Luke 11:4). In each of these, our action causes a reaction. This is why Jesus commanded us to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" because how you treat others is how you'll be treated in the future.
We are required to forgive others in order to be forgiven. It isn't really a choice. Jesus made it clear that unless we forgive others, we won't be forgiven ourselves. Un-forgiveness is a dangerous game to play. The original text conveys that they were handed over to the "Tormentors. " This was a torturer who would make them pay back the debt in some way. This wasn't a made-up phrase Jesus happened to use but a stern warning to us.
Many of us are in jail and don't even know it. Many are tormented. We wonder why our life is a living hell, yet we cling to our bitterness like it's all we have to live for. Let the ones who hurt you go and free yourself from your personal jail. Your life will be so much happier, and your mind will be free when you no longer have to track all the wrongs done to you.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know I need Your mercy more than ever. Because of You, I forgive those who have done me wrong. I freely release them and let them go. Please set me free from the torturer today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Note: Happy Sunday! For those who would like to join us, today we will be hosting our RHM Live Online church service. This is a special time of interactive worship, prayer, fellowship and an inspiring message. All are welcome! The service starts at 10am EST. Here is the link to join: RHM Live. As always, if you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network.
I have a family member and her husband who have hurt our family to the very core. My Aunt went to her grave angry with them. Please Lord, give me the grace to really forgive these two who have caused so much damage to our family. Give me the strength to stand in the face of adversity and rebuke evil in your name. Please let me release all built up anger for relief and for my ability to move forward in life. In Jesus Name I Pray... Amen!🙏🏼
Post from Sherry Mccosh
1 week ago
Heavenly Father, I know I need Your mercy more than ever. Because of You, I forgive those who have done me wrong. I freely release them and let them go. Please set me free from the torturer today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Also, I am asking for prayer for my mother Gloria. She is very stubborn and she refuses to forgive her mother and her sisters for things they said or did to her many years ago. I tried to tell her that if she does not forgive she is not forgiven but she refuses to listen because she thinks she knows better. I am asking for prayer to soften her hardened heart that she may realize her error before she dies. She is 87 and will be 88 in March. I don't want her to go to Hell but she refuses to listen or forgive other. she is one of the most stubborn people I have ever met in my life and she has no friends because she doesn't have a filter so she blurts out what ever she wants to say even it is unkind or hurtful. I love her she is my mother but she always drives me crazy with her stubbornness. All I can do for her at this point is keep praying because she wont listen to me.
Comment from Lynn Brown
1 week ago
Praying the Lord softens her heart and that she will hear your words also.🙏
Comment from Marilyn Salter
1 week ago
I’m am praying for her Sherry. I pray she will reach out to God and lay her burdens on Him and that He will have the Holy Spirit flood her heart with the light of forgiveness.
Comment from Susan Petho
1 week ago
Sherry, I am praying for your mother.
Amen!
Heavenly Father Please Help Me To Forgive All Of The People Who Hurt Me In My Life. I Will Forgive All Of The Peoples Who Have Hurt Me Starting Today It Take To Much Energy And Time I Could Be Using For Something More Positive Than Wasting My Time On Being Mad At Them Amen Good Morning Everyone Have A Blessed Sunday 😀
Good morning Everyone! Thank you for the today devotional! Just what I needed- reminder!
Enjoy the Super Bowl today! ❤️
Comment from Lynn Brown
1 week ago
You too, Debi!🩷
Replies to this comment
1 week ago
I sure hope so, Dan! I don't know what happened to the Chiefs last night, I bet on them for the win.🤷♀️
Post from Marilyn Salter
1 week ago
Amen. I have to ask for forgiveness everyday. And I try yo make it a practice for other people.
Post from Wesley Paulus
1 week ago
Amen!
Post from Marisa Jackson
1 week ago
Amen🙏🙏❤️❤️🙏🙏!!
Post from Scott Riegelmann
1 week ago
Amen thank you Father for sending us Jesus Christ that we may be forgiven as long as we forgive, I love action statements.
Post from LaDonne Lenzini
1 week ago
I needed to hear this today. Amen!
Good morning, y'all, praying you have a restful and very blessed Sunday! 🌻💝🙏
Comment from Dan Remley
1 week ago
Good morning Sylvia and pastor Dion. I hope you and our RHM family has a wonderful day ❤️
Comment from Bella Colliander
1 week ago
Good morning Sylvia. Your pleasant messages each morning are appreciated. Hugs 🕊️
Lord, I know that sometimes it's very hard to forgive. I also know that this is what you ask of me. Please give me the strength and courage to forgive. I don't want to carry hate and bitterness with me. I want to do what you ask of me. Amen❤️
Post from Liesel aka lisa Wardle
1 week ago
Amen and Amen, Pastor!!! Dear Heavenly Father, I know I need Your mercy more than ever before!!! Because of YOU, I forgive those who have done me wrong! I freely release them and let it go! Please, oh Lord, set me free from the torturer today!! In the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN!!! - "Forgive to be forgiven", I keep on saying that to myself again and again! This little song, remembering singing it with the little ones during Sunday School called "God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to me . . ." has been on my mind lately, as I'm adding another verse to it "HE answers prayer, He answers prayer . . . He's so good to me!" Thank you Lord for answering our prayers, I love YOU!!! ♥️
Post from Theresa Bright
1 week ago
Amen 🙏🏻 Thank you Pastor.
Heavenly Father, I know I need Your mercy more than ever. Because of You, I forgive those who have done me wrong. I freely release them and let them go. Please set me free from the torturer today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Post from Celeste Strenn
1 week ago
Amen🙏🏽
Post from Donald Woodard
1 week ago
Amen, Thank You Lord for Your mercy!
Post from Bella Colliander
1 week ago
Yes Lord and amen!🕊️
Heavenly Father, I know I need Your mercy more than ever. Because of You, I forgive those who have done me wrong. I freely release them and let them go. Please set me free from the torturer today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen! ❤️🤟🏻
AMEN!!
Post from Kay Collinsworth
1 week ago
Amen
Amen I forgive them and release them oh Lord and I ask forgiveness from anyone that has done me wrong, in JESUS MIGHTY NAME, Amen
Amen!
Post from Schalk de Beer
1 week ago
Yes Father, in Jesus's name I pray, amen.
Comment from Susan Petho
1 week ago
Valerie, last year, on 2/8, I texted my sister after 7 years of not speaking with her. Our mom passed away on 2/8/2015, and my sister was the Executor of the will. I cared for my mom her last 2.5 years in my home. She was blind and dementia was creeping in. Although her will said everything should be equally divided between her two daughters, she had made her bank account a joint account with my sister, so my sister could take care of her house in Connecticut. She had moved to California to live with me. I did not know that a joint account supercedes a will. My sister refused to share the money that my mom had in her account. She would not even tell me the amount. I ended up getting a lawyer to fund out. It was messy. In the end, I settled for 1/10th the amount, and had to pay my lawyer half of that! I was very angry. As time went by I knew I must forgive her, so told my friends and myself that I forgive her. I just would not call or text her, and neither would she. After 7 years, a neighbor suggested that I call my sister on the anniversary of my mom's death. I became enraged that she would have the nerve to suggest such a thing! That is when I realized that I never really forgave my sister from my heart. I only said I did, and I thought that was enough. Well, I texted her last year, and we have talked and texted ever since. We never discuss the money. All I know is that I now truly forgive her and it feels like a weight has been removed from my shoulders! Thank God I no longer hold on to the anger I had.
I hope and pray that you do not have to hold on to your anger for 7 years as I did. It really is best to forgive.
Comment from Sherry Mccosh
1 week ago
Praying for you to forgive these people who have hurt you. I know how hard it is to forgive people that are very unkind and hurtful but the Bible tells is if we dont forgive others than we are not forgiven so we need to. I pray that God will help you to let go these hurts and forgive these people who have hurt you
Comment from Marilyn Salter
1 week ago
I pray the Lord gives you guidance and peace for this dilemma.
Comment from Liesel aka lisa Wardle
1 week ago
🙏🙏🙏
Comment from Dan Remley
1 week ago
I pray for this in Jesus name Valerie ❤️
Comment from Lynn Brown
1 week ago
🙏
Comment from Sylvia Todd
1 week ago
Praying with you, sister 🙏!
Comment from Schalk de Beer
1 week ago
Amen ✝️🛐