Believer, the fundamental basis of our religion is forgiveness. Christ came so he may purchase forgiveness of our sins with His Blood. "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21 It is so easy for us as human beings to carry a grudge and unforgiveness towards others in our hearts. I have known people to carry grudges for a decade or more. Some people are unable to forgive and carry grudges their entire lifetime. Some grudges and fights such as those between the sons of Abraham (Isaac and Ismael) have lasted almost 4,500 years and continues to this day in the form of the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Back to Jesus' words regarding forgiveness, Our Lord and Savior specifically commanded us to forgive each other. "For if you forgive others their trespasses (wrongs), your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses (wrongs), neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.(wrongs)" Matthew 6:14-15 Indeed Jesus repeatedly stressed that we should forgive each other "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions." Mark 11:25 Indeed this was echoed by the Apostle Paul who wrote: "Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:12-17
Forgiveness was so important to Jesus that He took the time to narrate an entire parable about this to Peter.
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother (or anyone) sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven." Matthew 18:21-22 It was Jewish custom at the time Jesus was walking this earth, to forgive someone up to three times if they wronged you. Peter goes a little further and wonders if followers of Christ should forgive each other up to seven times. However, Jesus blows the door wide open and says, not up to seven but seventy times seven (which, if you are bad at math, totals up to 490 times.) Essentially what Jesus was saying was that there was no limit to the number of times one should forgive his fellow man.
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. (A talent is worth roughly $1.5 Million in today's money.) And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, (roughly worth $40 in today's money) and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother (anyone) from your heart.” Matthew 18:23-35
Back to Jesus' words regarding forgiveness, Our Lord and Savior specifically commanded us to forgive each other. "For if you forgive others their trespasses (wrongs), your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses (wrongs), neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.(wrongs)" Matthew 6:14-15 Indeed Jesus repeatedly stressed that we should forgive each other "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions." Mark 11:25 Indeed this was echoed by the Apostle Paul who wrote: "Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:12-17
Forgiveness was so important to Jesus that He took the time to narrate an entire parable about this to Peter.
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother (or anyone) sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven." Matthew 18:21-22 It was Jewish custom at the time Jesus was walking this earth, to forgive someone up to three times if they wronged you. Peter goes a little further and wonders if followers of Christ should forgive each other up to seven times. However, Jesus blows the door wide open and says, not up to seven but seventy times seven (which, if you are bad at math, totals up to 490 times.) Essentially what Jesus was saying was that there was no limit to the number of times one should forgive his fellow man.
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. (A talent is worth roughly $1.5 Million in today's money.) And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, (roughly worth $40 in today's money) and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother (anyone) from your heart.” Matthew 18:23-35