Session 9. The Forgiving Heart and the Kingdom of God

Parable: The Unforgiving Servant

Presented at Harbor Church, Los Angeles, California

May 1, 1983

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-35

This is the ninth session of a 12-part series Dallas called “The Parabolic Teaching About Christ’s Kingdom by Christ Himself,” and today’s focus is on the gift of forgiveness. Many of us have a hard time with forgiveness, and sometimes that’s because of misunderstandings about what it is and how we should approach it.

In this episode, Dallas clarifies what is and is not a part of what it means to forgive someone (i.e. it doesn’t mean you forget about it and your relationship becomes the same as before) and offers helpful advice about things we can do to help us practice forgiveness. He also shares his interpretation of Matthew 18:35 (So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.) and Matthew 6:12 (Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.).

If you’d like to learn more about how to make forgiveness a natural part of your life, visit our website and listen to the 3-hour workshop Dallas taught in 1996 called “From Forgiveness to Blessing.” https://dwillard.org/resources/audio/from-forgiveness-to-blessing

Visit https://DWillard.org for a wide variety of resources and opportunities that can serve as a means to help you “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Dallas Willard Ministries exists to proclaim, teach and manifest the love, truth and transforming power of Christ and the Kingdom of God. We invite you to partner with us by praying for our ministry team, praying for the students in the School of Kingdom Living, sharing your talents as a volunteer, or contributing financial gifts. Visit https://dwillard.org/donate if you’d like to help us increase the availability of Dallas’s teaching to help people become more like Jesus.

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