Sword and Shield

Heart Guide for Lesson 15:
Freedom through Forgiving

So many scriptures command forgiveness. The Lord must really want us to get this! He actually sees not forgiving as a form of hating (1 John 2:9-11; 3:14-15; 4:20-21).

"And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:12-15 ESV

Then Peter came up and said to him, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.' Matthew 18:21-22 ESV

"Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?' His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.' Matthew 18:32-35 WEB

'Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;  give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.' Luke 6:37-38 ESV

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