The attitude of a citizen of the kingdom.
Long suffering, slow to anger, not vengeful, and without condemnation, should the citizen of the kingdom be. How many of us follow the course here outlined, when an associate "trespasses" against us? How many of us go to him first and talk it over? If the matter is not settled then, how many of us try again, and take two or three friends along to help arbitrate the difficulty? And if still a reconciliation is not effected, how many of us appeal in a spirit of love to the church—the court of last appeal in matters spiritual? Unfortunately, most of us are prone to cast off the brother who has done us wrong without looking into the causes that prompted him to act as he did. If we take steps to settle the difficulty, it is too often not through the mediation of friends or the spiritual influence of the Church, but through the cold procedure of the civil court. And worst of all, we yield not infrequently to the temptation to talk. We gossip; we slander; we start scandal; we wrong much more than we have been wronged. Jesus would not have it so. Agree with thine adversary quickly.
The doctrine of forgiveness.
Sometimes it happens that a brother offends more than once. How many times shall he then be forgiven? This question troubled Peter. He of came therefore to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?"
"Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee. Until seven times: but until seventy times seven." Of course, Jesus did not mean that one should forgive an offender exactly seventy-seven times, no more, no less. He meant that there is no limit to the number of times that we should exercise the gift of forgiveness; but that we should forgive freely and cheerfully as often as the offender repents. Then, in order that there might be no question as to the meaning of His teaching, Jesus told the parable of the unforgiving servant.
The parable of the unforgiving servant.
"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him which owed him ten thousand talents (or about $10,000,000). But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
"But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, who owed him an hundred pence (or about $20): and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
"So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldst not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
"So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."