Universal Utterings

for August 14, 2025

A Godcast

UniversalUtterings.Com

08-14-2025 Matthew 18 v2135 How Often Must I Forgive Him

http://universalutterings.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/08-14-2025-Matthew-18-v2135-How-Often-Must-I-Forgive-Him.mp3

The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 18 Verses 21 thru 35

21 Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. 23 That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. 25 Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. 26 At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’27 Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. 28 When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ 29 Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. 31 Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed and went to their master and reported the whole affair. 32 His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. 33 Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ 34 Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. 35 So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”

In Matthew 18:21-35, we encounter a powerful lesson on forgiveness through a parable told by Jesus. This passage begins with Peter asking how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him, suggesting seven times. Jesus responds not with a number, but by emphasizing boundless forgiveness, stating we should forgive seventy times seven.

To illustrate His point, Jesus tells the parable of a king who wishes to settle accounts with his servants. One servant owes an insurmountable debt, and when unable to repay, the king orders his whole family to be sold into slavery. The servant pleads for mercy, and the king compassionately forgives the entire debt. However, that same servant encounters a fellow servant who owes him a much smaller amount. Instead of extending the mercy he recently received, he mercilessly demands payment and has his fellow servant thrown into prison.

Upon learning of this injustice, the king calls the unforgiving servant back and reprimands him for his lack of compassion. He reverts his act of forgiveness, declaring that he should have shown mercy just as he had been shown mercy. The parable concludes with a grave warning: “So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

The repercussions of refusing to forgive are dire. Not only does it sever our relationship with those who have wronged us, but it also estranges us from the heart of God. Holding onto unforgiveness burdens us, constricts our hearts, and cultivates bitterness, much like the unforgiving servant who imprisoned himself in his anger. Let us remember that forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves, freeing us to live in peace and reflecting the grace God freely offers us all. Amen.

Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.

At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.

I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.

I am a poet obedient to Christ,

Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins

†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®

Ephesians 6:17-20

08-14-2025 Matthew 18 v2135

**How Often Must I Forgive Him**

In whispered tones, Peter sought to know,

“How many times must I let offenses go?

Is seven enough to measure my grace,

When others stumble, lose their rightful place?”

Yet in response, the Master did declare,

“Seventy times seven — boundless love to share.

Forgiveness, like a river, must flow free,

For in your heart, I wish it too shall be.”

A king once ruled with mercy’s gentle hand,

To settle debts across his vast, rich land.

One servant bowed, his burdens far too great,

Yet mercy came and canceled all his fate.

But lo! This man, once spared from chains of woe,

Met a fellow servant, and his heart turned cold.

He seized the man for debts of little claim,

No mercy shown — oh, how he brought on shame.

The king soon learned of this unjust reply,

And summoned forth the servant with a sigh.

“Wasn’t your debt wiped clean by grace so pure?

Then why withhold from others? Can’t you see the cure?”

The warning rang, a truth we must embrace,

“If you don’t forgive, how can you find grace?

For love is meant to bind, not tear apart,

Forgiveness builds the bridge and heals the heart.”

So let us learn from this story profound,

To forgive as we’ve been forgiven — abound.

For in the act of kindness, we shall find,

That mercy’s gift brings peace and frees the mind. Amen.

© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins

August 13, 2025 @ 04:40 AM EST

® Universal Utterings ® is brought to you by;

**† God First Ministries, Inc. is a Roman Catholic Lay Ministry not sponsored by The Church but is accepted by the IRS as a Religious Charitable Org. and is exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations made through PayPal using [email protected], or given to GFM are tax deductible. †**