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Forgive and reconcile

Distinguish mercy, patience, restitution and responsible reconciliation.

1. 1. Read and discover - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Matthew 18:21-35

   ²¹ Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?”

   ²² Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.

   ²³ Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

   ²⁴ When he had begun to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

   ²⁵ But because he couldn’t pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

   ²⁶ The servant therefore fell down and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’

   ²⁷ The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the debt.

   ²⁸ “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’

   ²⁹ “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’

   ³⁰ He would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay back that which was due.

   ³¹ So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told their lord all that was done.

   ³² Then his lord called him in and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.

   ³³ Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’

   ³⁴ His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due to him.

   ³⁵ So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   The parable contrasts received mercy with harshness toward another debtor; forgiveness neither authorizes abuse nor removes justice.

   Reflect

   • How does the servant treat his companion after his own debt has been forgiven?

   Put it into practice

   Recognize your own moral debt before judging another’s.

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2. 2. Putting on compassion - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Colossians 3:12-17

   ¹² Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;

   ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

   ¹⁴ Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

   ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.

   ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.

   ¹⁷ Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

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   Understanding the passage

   The community is called to compassion, patience, forgiveness and gratitude; clothing imagery portrays love as visible habits.

   Reflect

   • Which habit does your community need during disagreement?

   Put it into practice

   Practice a patient response before reacting in conflict.

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3. 3. Overcoming evil with good - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Romans 12:17-21

   ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.

   ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.

   ¹⁹ Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”

   ²⁰ Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

   ²¹ Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Paul distinguishes seeking peace from revenge; caring for an enemy does not erase protection or justice.

   Reflect

   • What responsibility remains yours even if the other person does not change?

   Put it into practice

   Choose a nonvengeful response with safe boundaries.

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4. 4. Zacchaeus and repair - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Luke 19:1-10

   ¹ He entered and was passing through Jericho.

   ² There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.

   ³ He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn’t because of the crowd, because he was short.

   ⁴ He ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was going to pass that way.

   ⁵ When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

   ⁶ He hurried, came down, and received him joyfully.

   ⁷ When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, “He has gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner.”

   ⁸ Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much.”

   ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.

   ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   The encounter leads to generosity and restitution; changed life concretely affects possessions and treatment of people.

   Reflect

   • How does Zacchaeus show through his actions that he wants to change?

   Put it into practice

   Identify repairable harm and agree on fair restitution.

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5. 5. Responsible reconciliation - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Matthew 5:21-26

   ²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’

   ²² But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.

   ²³ “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,

   ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

   ²⁵ Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.

   ²⁶ Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Jesus addresses anger and contempt behind violence and calls for reconciliation; the passage does not require unprotected exposure to an abuser.

   Reflect

   • How does Jesus invite people to address anger and seek responsible reconciliation?

   Put it into practice

   Repair a hurtful word where doing so is safe.