You may have noticed a huge contrast between the king’s attitude toward forgiveness and the slave’s attitude toward forgiveness. The former relented when initially asked for pity, while the latter had no mercy.
Possibly the most difficult human exercise is to forgive others, especially those who have really hurt us. For whatever reason, we resist forgiving. Sometimes, it feels like we just can’t let it go, and we allow prideful, righteous feelings to fester within us. That doesn’t mean we are incapable of forgiving. What about our ability to forgive those we love dearly? If a child or grandchild breaks some valued item, what might our response be? “Oh, don’t worry about that dear, just help me clean it up.”
Is it possible we can learn something about forgiveness in these examples? We are told that the king felt something for the slave who owed so much. When we are able to so easily forgive those we care about, is it not because we also feel something for them? Perhaps the secret to learning forgiveness is to love others as Jesus loved, seeking to have compassion and working through any resentment.
Merciful Lord, when I’m tempted to hold on to resentment, help me to see others as you do, as part of your creation, loved by you and offered the same forgiveness you offer me. Amen. — NHLC