This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.
Matthew 18:35 (NIV)
Love and forgiveness were two of the central themes of the Sermont on the Mount. Jesus placed great emphasis on these two, especially on forgiveness. He taught us about love and forgiveness. He illustrated forgiveness using the love of the father. This means that forgiveness is at the center of any human relationship, at any level.
Why is love so important in the forgiveness process? because without love it is difficult to forgive and to forget the evil that has been done to us. The only way to truly forgive with all your heart is to love another with all your heart. Notice that Jesus is not talking about emotional love but rather sacrificial love. It was this love that carried Him to the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
God proved His love by giving His son to the cross. Jesus showed us the importance of sacrificial love by taking up the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Isn't this example enough for us to love and forgive our neighbour? If you read the preceding verses, you will understand why God will treat us differently if we refuse to forgive. Because He forgave us out of love for us, without asking anything in return.
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