Forgiveness and reconciliation with others

21 Then Kefa (Peter; Grk. Petros) approached Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) and asked, “Master, how often can someone sin against me and I’ll still have to forgive them?”[ref]

22 “I won’t say seven times,” Yeshua answered, “but seventy times seven times![ref]

23 “It’s because of this that the heavenly kingdom can be likened to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 So when he began the process, a man was brought in who owed him tens of millions, 25 but since he had no way of repaying it, the master commanded for him and his wife and children and all their possessions to be sold to help pay off the debt. 26 Then that slave dropped to the ground and prostrated himself to the master, saying, ‘Master, give me a little more time, and then I’ll be able to repay it all to you.’ 27 So the master felt sorry for that slave and sent him away and forgave his loan.

28 “But when the slave got outside, he found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a few thousand. He grabbed him and was strangling him with his hands, saying, ‘Give back what you owe!’ 29 The fellow slave dropped to the ground and begged him, ‘Give me a little more time and I’ll repay you.’ 30 But the other wasn’t willing, and he went and had the man thrown into prison until he repaid what he owed. 31 The other slaves who’d observed all this were very upset, so they went and informed the master about what had happened. 32 So then the master called in the slave that he’d forgiven and told him, ‘You evil slave! I forgave you that entire debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Wouldn’t it have been reasonable for you also to have shown mercy to your fellow slave just like I was merciful to you?’ 34 Then the master, who was now quite angry, handed him over to the torturers until he could repay everything that he owed.

35 “So that’s how my heavenly father will treat you if you don’t genuinely forgive others around you.”

21 “You’ve all heard that your ancestors were told not to murder,[ref] because any murderer will be sentenced. 22 But I’m telling you that anyone who gets angry at another will be liable for judgement, and anyone who calls another person a numbskull will have to face the court, and if you call them a fool, you’re liable for hellfire. 23 So if you’re there at the altar to offer your gift and remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your gift there at the altar and go and sort that out first, before coming back to offer your gift.

25 “Resolve things with your opponent as soon as you can, hopefully while you’re still on the way to the court, in case your opponent turns you in to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and then you’ll end up in prison. 26 I can assure you that you won’t get out of prison until the fine is completely paid.

15 “If a fellow believer sins, go where there’s just the two of you and rebuke that person privately. If they listen to you, you’ve gained back a fellow believer.[ref] 16 But if they don’t listen to you, take one or two others with you, so that there’ll be two or three witnesses to verify the message.[ref] 17 Then if that person still refuses to listen, tell the whole assembly. If they still refuse to hear from the assembly, treat them like a non-believer or a tax-collector.[fn]

18 “I can assure you that whatever you restrain on earth will be restrained in heaven, and whatever you set free on earth will be set free in heaven.[ref]

19 “Again, I can assure you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they request in prayer, then my father who’s in the heavens will action it, 20 because any place where two or three people have gathered together in my name and authority, I’ll be right there among them.”

17 Then Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) told his followers, “It’s impossible that temptations will disappear, but a bad future awaits whoever brings them. 2 It would be better if that person had a heavy weight tied to them and got thrown into the sea than if they cause a younger one to stumble. 3 Take great care.

If a fellow-believer disobeys God, scold them,[ref] and then if they stop and request forgiveness, forgive them. 4 Even if they wrong you seven times in a day and then seven times come and tell you that they’re turning away from it, forgive them.”

6 Brothers and sisters, if a person has been caught sinning, you spiritual people need to guide the person with a spirit of gentleness, at the same time looking at your own behaviour, in case you yourselves are also tempted. 2 Help those who are going through difficulties or pain, and in doing so you’ll fulfil the messiah’s law, 3 because anyone who supposes themself to be someone special, but isn’t, is only deceiving themself. 4 Evaluate your own actions, but keep your boasts to yourself and don’t tell others, 5 because each person must face up to their own issues.