DAY TWENTY-NINE – Monday, April 4, 2022
Matthew 18:23-35
Forgiveness. Contrition. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Obviously, the unforgiving servant missed the Coles Notes on the concept of doing unto others as ... because the example of forgiveness by the king didn’t register. Likely this unforgiving servant swaggered around acting big, that on bended knee he persuaded the particular king that he would pay everything. When the shoe was on the other foot, the unforgiving servant socked it to his fellow debtor. When all the servant/slaves were outraged, they tattled to the king, and the unforgiving servant’s actions came back to bite him. The king had him tortured until he paid his original debt in full.
So, my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister, from your heart.
“...from your heart.” Aye, there’s the rub.
Feelings of guilt, regret, remorse within the wrong doer, who is to be forgiven, should be evident. Evidence of contrition should also be within the wrong doer.
Hopefully the wronged person perceives sincere contrition of the wrong doer, and the wronged person can forgive and hope to repair and restore the relationship.
However, should excuses, apologies, etc. by the wrong doer be dripping with crocodile tears, with no indication of contrition, there can be no forgiving. The wrong doer would perceive victory, and wouldn’t hesitate to do wrong to the same person again or indeed anybody. Manipulation. Modus operandi The wronged person can try to understand, but forget about trying to be understood. Shake the dust off your feet, and get as far away from this person as possible.
To thine own self be true.
Georgia Brock
Matthew 18:23-35
Forgiveness. Contrition. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Obviously, the unforgiving servant missed the Coles Notes on the concept of doing unto others as ... because the example of forgiveness by the king didn’t register. Likely this unforgiving servant swaggered around acting big, that on bended knee he persuaded the particular king that he would pay everything. When the shoe was on the other foot, the unforgiving servant socked it to his fellow debtor. When all the servant/slaves were outraged, they tattled to the king, and the unforgiving servant’s actions came back to bite him. The king had him tortured until he paid his original debt in full.
So, my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister, from your heart.
“...from your heart.” Aye, there’s the rub.
Feelings of guilt, regret, remorse within the wrong doer, who is to be forgiven, should be evident. Evidence of contrition should also be within the wrong doer.
Hopefully the wronged person perceives sincere contrition of the wrong doer, and the wronged person can forgive and hope to repair and restore the relationship.
However, should excuses, apologies, etc. by the wrong doer be dripping with crocodile tears, with no indication of contrition, there can be no forgiving. The wrong doer would perceive victory, and wouldn’t hesitate to do wrong to the same person again or indeed anybody. Manipulation. Modus operandi The wronged person can try to understand, but forget about trying to be understood. Shake the dust off your feet, and get as far away from this person as possible.
To thine own self be true.
Georgia Brock
