Father, Forgive Me: Understanding Divine Mercy

By Dale J. Babinsky
    Gratitude toward the Lord is deeply connected to recognizing His forgiveness and mercy. Many struggle to fully grasp the completeness of God’s forgiveness, often feeling burdened by past mistakes even after seeking forgiveness. Sometimes, people swing between extremes—wanting to forgive everyone regardless of their repentance, or refusing to forgive those who have wronged them, believing they’ve missed their chance.    Jesus addresses these personal relationships in Mat. 18, teaching about the process of reconciliation: confronting faults, repentance, and forgiveness, with church discipline as a last resort. The disciples, curious about the frequency of forgiveness, ask, “How often do I forgive my brother?” Peter suggests seven times, thinking it generous since rabbis taught three strikes was the limit (Amos 1:3, Amos 1:6, Amos 1:9). Jesus, however, calls for much more—77 or even 490 times—emphasizing that forgiveness should be continual, not counted. He illustrates this with the parable of the Unmerciful Servant.    In Mat. 18:23-27, Jesus tells of a servant who owed an unfathomable debt—billions by today’s standards. The king, moved by compassion, forgives the entire debt, showing mercy to a penitent servant. This represents God’s willingness to forgive all our sins, debts we could never repay. God’s grace, provided through Jesus, is greater than any sin, and He releases us from spiritual bondage when we sincerely seek forgiveness. However, penitence is necessary for this gift.    Luke 17:3-4 highlights that God’s forgiveness requires repentance—“if” the brother repents, forgiveness follows. The parable continues in Mat. 18:28-35: the forgiven servant refuses to forgive a minor debt owed to him, showing harshness and hypocrisy. His lack of mercy leads to punishment, illustrating that God expects us to forgive others as we have been forgiven. If we are not merciful, God may revoke our forgiveness (John 8:24, Prov. 21:13, Mat. 6:12-15, James 2:13).    Forgiveness and repentance must come from the heart—insincere apologies or forgiveness are ineffective (Mat. 18:35, Mat. 5:7, Eph 4:32, Col. 3:13). God forgives us as we forgive others, and His gift can be revoked if we do not “walk in the light.” Willingness to forgive is essential to maintaining God’s forgiveness.    The parable of the Unmerciful Servant teaches that if we desire forgiveness, we must be willing to forgive others. God forgives the greater debt; we should forgive the lesser. If you’re struggling with forgiveness or burdens after becoming a Christian, remember that prayer and support are always available. Just as Peter and others prayed for Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8), the church family can help by praying for us. The invitation to forgiveness is always open.

- Dale J. Babinsky preaches for the Great Smoky Mountains Church of Christ in Pigeon Forge, TN. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://gsmchurchofchrist.com/