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Matthew 6:12,14,15
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…

Matthew 7:1,2
Judge not, that ye be not judged…

Proverbs 21:13
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

from.

Proverbs 21:2
Every way of a manis right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

Jeremiah 3:10
And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.

Zechariah 7:12
Yea, they made their heartsas an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.

unless you forgive your brother
Forgiveness is a central theme in Jesus' teachings, highlighting the necessity of forgiving others as a reflection of God's forgiveness towards us. The term "brother" indicates fellow believers, emphasizing the importance of maintaining unity and love within the Christian community. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative that calls for reconciliation and peace among God's people (Ephesians 4:32). The cultural context of the time placed a high value on familial and community relationships, making forgiveness essential for social harmony.

from your heart.
The phrase "from your heart" signifies genuine, heartfelt forgiveness, not merely a superficial or obligatory act. This internal transformation is a work of the Holy Spirit, aligning with the biblical call for believers to exhibit the fruits of the Spirit, such as love and kindness (Galatians 5:22-23). The heart, in biblical terms, represents the center of one's being, including emotions, will, and intellect. Thus, forgiveness must be sincere and complete, reflecting the depth of God's forgiveness towards humanity. This teaching challenges believers to examine their motives and attitudes, ensuring that their actions are rooted in true compassion and grace.

- Jesus has just finished the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:23-34), where the master “handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all he owed.”

- “That is how” links the story to real life: the outcome pictured for the unforgiving servant is exactly what will occur in God’s dealings with hard-hearted disciples.

- Similar warnings appear inLuke 6:38, “With the measure you use, it will be measured back to you,” andGalatians 6:7, “God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, he will reap”.

- Jesus emphasizes the personal relationship believers have with God—He is “My” Father and, by extension, the Father of every child of God (Matthew 6:9).

- The Father’s character is perfectly balanced: abounding in mercy (Psalm 103:8-13) yet unwavering in justice (Romans 2:5-6).

-Hebrews 12:6 reminds us, “The Lord disciplines the one He loves.” A Father who loves will correct any child who refuses to love others.

- Judgment is individual, not merely corporate. Each disciple will give an account (2 Corinthians 5:10).

- The “treatment” is corrective, but it is also solemn: discipline, loss of fellowship, and divine chastening now, and loss of reward at the judgment seat later (1 Corinthians 3:15).

-James 2:13 drives the point home: “Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment”.

- A single word that makes the promise of discipline conditional—and therefore avoidable.

- Scripture often uses “unless” to mark a gracious escape route (Luke 13:3;John 3:3). God’s warnings aim to move us toward repentance, not despair.

- Forgiveness is not optional for believers. Jesus already said, “If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14-15).

- Practical steps:

• Recall how much God has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).

• Release the offense—cancel the debt, just as the master did at first in the parable.

• Reaffirm love when possible (2 Corinthians 2:7-8).

-Colossians 3:13: “Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you”.

- Forgiveness must be sincere, not merely verbal. God “looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

- Signs it is “from the heart”:

• No rehearsing the offense in bitterness (Hebrews 12:15).

• Genuine prayer for the offender’s blessing (Matthew 5:44).

• Openness to restored relationship when trust is rebuilt (Romans 12:18).

-1 John 3:18 puts it plainly: “Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth”.

Matthew 18:35 warns that God will deal with an unforgiving believer in the same strict manner pictured in the parable. Our heavenly Father loves us too much to let bitterness mutilate our souls; He will discipline each of us unless we choose to release others fully and sincerely. Because we have been forgiven an incalculable debt through Christ, we must forgive our brothers from the heart, thereby enjoying unhindered fellowship with God and reflecting His merciful nature to the world.

Do also unto you.--The words cut through the meshes of many theological systems by which men have deceived themselves. Men have trusted in the self-assurance of justification, in the absolving words of the priest, as though they were final and irreversible. The parable teaches that the debt may come back. If faith does not work by love, it ceases to justify. If the man bind himself once again to his old evil nature, the absolution is annulled. The characters of the discharge are traced (to use another similitude) as in sympathetic ink, and appear or disappear according to the greater or less glow of the faith and love of the pardoned debtor.

From your hearts.--A verbal, formal forgiveness does not satisfy the demands of the divine righteousness. God does not so forgive, neither should man.

Every one his brother their trespasses.--The two last words are not in some of the best MSS., and have probably been added to make the verse correspond withMatthew 6:14-15.

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