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Thread: Matthew 18:21-22

  1. #1
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    Matthew 18:21-22

    Good morning brothers and sisters.

    Pondering this morning....
    Ezekiel 8:17-18 Specifically "Indeed they put put the branch to the nose"

    I read several commentaries and they seemed to have a common thread based on custom and context..this action of religious paganism was an act of rebellion and mockery, even anger at God.

    But as I pondered this my mind went to false humility, also mockery, within the context of Matthew 18:21-22

    So in THAT context what does forgiveness really look like?

    If a person 'cries crocodile tears' but their actions following their remorse do not demonstrate true repentance which produces a change of heart and bahaviour God dos not withhold forgiveness.

    Now I am asking this in the context of the born again believer because the new birth is an experience produced only when genuine Spirit encounter and repentance. I am asking within the context of how we live after that.

    Example, someone has wronged another and says they are sorry but then immediately resumes the antagonist bahaviour. The wronged chooses to not hold a grudge or act in any vengeful manner. As someone here said 'let them off our hook'. It is hard watching a vindictive bitter person create chaos wherever they go.

    I guess I am working on seeing this forgiveness thing from God's mindset because He KNOWS when our hearts are insincere and we are literally mocking..

    Which leads to the next passage...God is not mocked (or He is not taken in by false humility) whatsoever a person sows that will they reap.

    So clearly He is aware of false humility and clearly He does not intervene in the consequences of the bahaviour.

    So what does that look like in OUR life and our response?

    I hope that question makes sense...Not sure what I am looking for but it is one of those times when my 'gut' tells me there is a nugget here to discover.

  2. #2
    Just a short comment here in regard to the going back to the same behavior after the "I'm sorry". John the Baptist said to the Pharisees to bring him the fruits of repentance. There needs to be fruit and to encourage the one learning to grow in it. Paul also said to the Corinthians that godly sorrow works repentance. If there is not that deep sorrow there can be no lasting change. Otherwise, it becomes a worldly sorrow that produces no change and soon becomes a routine apology.

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