Scripture
“That's what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters form your heart.”

Observation
Peter asks Jesus how many times we should forgive our brother- as many as seven times? Jesus responds, not seven but seventy times seven.

He tells the story of an unforgiving servant to make his point. A servant forgiven a debt of millions of dollars refuses to show the same grace to another who owes him just a few dollars. The king subsequently has the first servant sent to prison “to be tortured” until the debt is paid in full.

Jesus concludes with the warning that God will treat us likewise if we don't forgive.

Application
Forgiveness is important to God because:

a. He is a God of grace and extends forgiveness to people. It is a part of His nature.

b. He wants His children to take on board His qualities- to be like Him.

c. If we don't know how to forgive those who hurt us there is a good chance that we've never really received God's grace.

Jesus is very clear here and in other places that if we do not live by the core values of God then we show ourselves to be not in His kingdom and will therefore be subject to judgement.

Prayer
Father please show me who I am holding a grudge against. Give me grace to freely forgive in the same way you have freely forgiven me. Amen.