Free To ForgiveSample

Day 9

Let's look at the next requirement for true forgiveness.

Requirement 2: Extend compassion to the person who wounded you.

The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, “Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.” Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. . . . Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you? (vv. 26–27, 33)

Compassion is the door to forgiveness. Compassion has the unique ability to soften and open a heart that is closed.

When the Bible says he “fell down,” the original language includes the thought that he fell upon his knees and touched the ground with his forehead in an act of profound humility. The verb indicates that he didn’t do this once, but over and over again, showing complete surrender. This touched the master’s heart.

When Jesus stated that the master “was moved with compassion,” He used the passive voice. This means his compassion was released by another’s action.

On those occasions where a person who wounded you comes back with humble and genuine repentance, you likely will be moved by compassion.

But this doesn’t usually happen. Most people never apologize to us. Recognizing that, the second type of compassion is when you open your heart yourself.

Jesus then went one step further, stating “just as I had pity [compassion] on you.”

These simple words capture a greater truth. Since God forgave us a far greater debt, should not we forgive those who have sinned against us to a far lesser degree? This is what God requires of all of us.

Extending compassion to another person in no way excuses or minimizes what they did to you. But, in order to extend them compassion, set that aside for a moment and see them as a person. What they did is not equal to who they are. When you give them compassion, you focus on them as a person, not on what they did to you.

After all, don’t you long for that compassion yourself?

This is an excerpt from The Freedom Factor: Finding Peace by Forgiving Others… and Yourself, by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson with Mark E. Strong. Used by permission.