Day 18 – September 24, 2026 – Matthew 18

I have to say that it doesn’t settle the heart to think at the end of this story that someone was tortured because of their cruelty, and that a metaphor is applied to us if we do not have mercy on others. I’m wondering what kind of motivation is it to have mercy if we know that if we do not have mercy then we will be tortured. That doesn’t sit great with me, but Jesus was telling parables in a way that people would be able to understand and that they would know how important it is for them to be righteous in their life.

We also have the parable of the lost sheep and the shepherd leaving the 99 and going on a hunt to find that one lost one. We also have Peter asking Jesus that we all want to ask Jesus, how many times do we actually have to forgive someone if they keep hurting us over and over again. And the answer is every single time. Now, her me well, that does not mean that we put ourselves in a position to be hurt again. If we are in a relationship that is harmful to us, we leave, this does not mean that we stay and submit to abuse. But it does mean that we forgive and allow God to heal our wounds as we have moved on closer to Jesus.