If we read the entire chapter, this was the response of the Apostles to Jesus when he told them to forgive their brother every time he asks forgiveness.
Sometimes it is impossible to forgive, especially if you have been wrongfully accused and crucified in media of having done things of which you never did. It is impossible to forgive if after you have given forgiveness, the person shows no remorse but does the same offense or even does worst.
Sometimes it is impossible to forgive, especially if you have been wrongfully accused and crucified in media of having done things of which you never did. It is impossible to forgive if after you have given forgiveness, the person shows no remorse but does the same offense or even does worst.
So did Jesus increase their faith? He did not.
Forgiveness may seem to be a leap of faith, but Jesus figuratively tells us that even if we have so little faith, such as the size of a mustard seed, we can do the impossible -such as asking a mulberry tree to plant itself in the sea. We do not need to have so much faith in order to forgive.
Our society is governed by laws of reward and punishment. This is often times our interpretation of justice, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. As Shylock the Jew ( in the Merchant of Venice) would have said, "if you (Christians) prick us, do we not bleed, if you (Christians) wrong us, do we not revenge?" Justice should be served.
But again the Gospel tells us that as Christians, we should do more than what is expected. We should do more than what we are obliged to do. If we do exactly what Shylock has said, then what difference does it make to be Christian.
Seeking Justice should still be made, but as Christians, seeking justice should not prevent us from forgiving. It is not enough to do what the law requires.This is what I think Jesus meant when he said that "we are unprofitable servants, we do what we are obliged to do.
Justice should not prevent us from forgiving, which is an exercise of our faith. Having faith is not a question of having too much or having too little, to do something great or impossible. The message of the Gospel is not about having enough faith. The Gospel is telling us that having faith is enough when it comes to forgiveness.
Justice should not prevent us from forgiving, which is an exercise of our faith. Having faith is not a question of having too much or having too little, to do something great or impossible. The message of the Gospel is not about having enough faith. The Gospel is telling us that having faith is enough when it comes to forgiveness.
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