Wait for the other servant to repay first

The man was expected to treat the other servant with mercy

He was to respond the same way he had been treated

The other servant had already repaid the debt

He was free to ignore mercy because he had been wronged

Show compassion because you have already received it

Wait until the other person earns kindness first

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I admit my sin and my hard heart. I turn from it and ask for your mercy. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I confess you as Lord, and I trust you to forgive me and make me new. Teach me to receive the mercy you give and to show that same mercy to others. Amen.

Receive the Mercy You Need

Lord, revive your Church to be known for mercy. Where we have been harsh, proud, or eager to condemn, replace that spirit with compassion. Make us quick to forgive, slow to judge, and ready to treat one another with the mercy we have received, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Make Your Church Merciful Again

Father, I confess the times I have wanted mercy for myself but withheld it from others. Forgive my scorekeeping and soften my heart. Teach me to remember the mercy I have received and to pass it on freely, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Turn from a Hard Heart

Bring these to God: gratitude for the mercy he has already shown you; awareness of any pride that makes you slow to show mercy; willingness to let gratitude shape how you treat others.

Thank You for the Mercy I Received

Name one person you are struggling to treat with compassion. Tell God honestly what you feel, ask him to remind you of the mercy you have received, and ask for one merciful action you can take today.

Pray Before You Answer

Lord, bring mercy into strained relationships and hard conversations. Help the hurt, the offender, and the weary to see one another through compassion instead of pride. Make us quick to forgive and ready to treat one another with the mercy we have received from you, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Mercy in Our Relationships

οὐκ{OOK###OOK###not} ἔδει{E-dee###EH-dee###it was necessary} καὶ{KE###KEH###also} σὲ{SE###SEH###you} ἐλεῆσαι{e-le-EE-se###eh-leh-EE-seh###to have mercy on} τὸν{TON###TOHN###the} σύνδουλόν{seen-doo-LON###seen-doo-LOHN###fellow slave} σου,{SOO###SOO###your} ὡς{HOS###HOHS###as} κἀγὼ{ka-GO###kah-GOH###I also} σὲ{SE###SEH###you} ἠλέησα;{ee-LE-ee-sa###ee-LEH-ee-sah###(I) had mercy on}

Matthew 18:33 — FormalTAB

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