Forgiveness and Repentance

[Paula]

Jesus then proceeded to tell the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.

This parable is fairly straightforward: God has forgiven us a massive debt so we should forgive others for their much smaller debts.

Something that I have wondered about: what if the person who wrongs you doesn't believe they have done anything wrong or denies having wronged you?

[mossrose]

Jesus then proceeded to tell the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.

This parable is fairly straightforward: God has forgiven us a massive debt so we should forgive others for their much smaller debts.

Something that I have wondered about: what if the person who wrongs you doesn't believe they have done anything wrong or denies having wronged you?

I struggled with this issue quite a few years ago. Those who wronged me never asked forgiveness, and I have no idea if there was any repentance on their part. It took me a very long time to forgive them, but I did, and I am free of that bondage.

Jesus didn't say we are only to forgive when the other person asks forgiveness. He just said we are to forgive.

I will not forget what was done, but there is no bitterness, no anger, no hatred, only peace. They are left to themselves and to God, Who will deal with them in His own time.

[Obsidian]

Generally speaking, I think the Bible does seem to teach that the person needs to repent, especially for big sins against you. But the overall point of the parable you cite is that God will treat Christians the way that they treat each other. I don't think you want God being super uptight about your having to repent of everything before he lets you off the hook.

[Cow Poke]

I struggled with this issue quite a few years ago. Those who wronged me never asked forgiveness, and I have no idea if there was any repentance on their part. It took me a very long time to forgive them, but I did, and I am free of that bondage.

Jesus didn't say we are only to forgive when the other person asks forgiveness. He just said we are to forgive.

I will not forget what was done, but there is no bitterness, no anger, no hatred, only peace. They are left to themselves and to God, Who will deal with them in His own time.

Somebody famous said something like "To forgive is to set a prisoner free - then you discover that prisoner was you".

[Cow Poke]

Jesus then proceeded to tell the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.

This parable is fairly straightforward: God has forgiven us a massive debt so we should forgive others for their much smaller debts.

Something that I have wondered about: what if the person who wrongs you doesn't believe they have done anything wrong or denies having wronged you?

Jesus tells us how to handle that in Matthew 18:15-17

[Sparko]

Somebody famous said something like "To forgive is to set a prisoner free - then you discover that prisoner was you".

yeah, I find that to be true. When I am mad at someone and hold a grudge, I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about the situation, feeling angry, thinking of ways to resolve the issue or get revenge, etc. But when I let that go, and just forgive them, then all that goes away and I am free to continue my life without all that stress. Forgiveness does help others, but even if you only forgive them in your heart and they know nothing about it, forgiveness always helps you.

[Obsidian]

Leviticus 19:17-18
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

Luke 17:3-4
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Matthew 18:15-17
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

I think the idea is that if it isn't worth rebuking him over and/or starting a fight or court dispute over, then you should just let it go regardless of whether he repents.

[bling]

Jesus then proceeded to tell the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.

This parable is fairly straightforward: God has forgiven us a massive debt so we should forgive others for their much smaller debts.

Something that I have wondered about: what if the person who wrongs you doesn't believe they have done anything wrong or denies having wronged you?

[Obsidian]

Biblical law doesn't justify putting someone in prison for debt. Therefore, the master was angry because one of his servants had committed false imprisonment against another one of his servants. The master punished the wicked servant in a comparable manner.

[Sparko]

That looks like a cut and paste job. If you copied it from someone or somewhere else, you need to provide a source citation.

[One Bad Pig]

Jesus then proceeded to tell the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.

This parable is fairly straightforward: God has forgiven us a massive debt so we should forgive others for their much smaller debts.

Something that I have wondered about: what if the person who wrongs you doesn't believe they have done anything wrong or denies having wronged you?

I think the Lord's Prayer makes it pretty clear that, if we want to be forgiven, we need to forgive, no matter what. I don't see any qualifiers there.

[bling]

Biblical law doesn't justify putting someone in prison for debt. Therefore, the master was angry because one of his servants had committed false imprisonment against another one of his servants. The master punished the wicked servant in a comparable manner.

[Cow Poke]

I think the Lord's Prayer makes it pretty clear that, if we want to be forgiven, we need to forgive, no matter what. I don't see any qualifiers there.

Yeah.

[Obsidian]

Eye for an eye

[hedrick]