Grace and Space

Seven times: Writing for a Christian community with Jewish roots, Matthew illustrates Christian forgiveness which is radically different from the traditional Jewish model.
Human beings are accountable to God, and sinners owe God infinite debt for which there is no sufficient payment. However, God decides not to demand his rights. Out of compassion and mercy, God forgives the sinner and grants him the temporary freedom of a prisoner under parole. Under divine terms, the forgiven sinner is expected to share the forgiveness he received. But the ungrateful sinner refuses to forgive a fellow servant who owes him. The flow of divine mercy and pardon is thus blocked. God the king revokes the forgiveness previously given to the unforgiving servant.
God forgives all of us but he will reject those who have not exercised compassion and failed to forgive without limits.