Forgiveness Will Set Us Free
In today’s sermon, we were reminded of the parable Jesus told about the servant who was forgiven a great debt by his king—only to turn around and demand payment from someone who owed him far less. (Matthew 18: 23-34) It’s a story that stops me in my tracks, because it holds up a mirror: how often do we cling to resentment even while living in the light of God’s mercy?
Forgiveness is not about forgetting what happened. It doesn’t mean ignoring boundaries or pretending the wound never existed. But it does mean choosing not to choke on resentment. Because resentment is like poison—we drink it, hoping it will harm someone else, when in reality it only harms us.
When we forgive, the prisoner we set free is ourselves. Forgiveness releases us from the grip of bitterness, giving us the freedom to breathe, to heal, to live fully. And yet, true forgiveness isn’t something we muster on our own. It becomes possible only when we remember the magnitude of the forgiveness we have already received through Christ.
Jesus paid our debt. He doesn’t hold it against us. That’s why we can forgive—because we have been forgiven.
In a world that often glorifies holding grudges, maybe we really do need more “Mr. Rogers”—gentleness, kindness, and grace in action. Forgiveness is the one thing evil cannot tolerate, because it breaks chains and sets hearts free.
May we each find the courage to forgive, as we have been forgiven.
You can watch the sermon here.
