Saturday, August 4, 2007

anger and forgiveness

90% of the time my boss is a great guy. But sometimes he throws temper tantrums. Yesterday I happened to get caught up in one. He yelled at a group of employees that happened to include me, then he followed me and and yelled at me personally. Needless to say I was upset, and still am. I know he's already over it. I really want to hold onto my anger and call it righteous. But anger makes for a dangerous pet. The more you feed it and protect it, the more it steals your peace and joy.
I looked up "forgive" at BibleGateway.com, an online concordance. There were 122 results. I copied and pasted the ones that were the most helpful to me.

Matthew 18:21-35

21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[f]

23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents[g] was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.[h] He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Mark 11:25-26

25 And whenever you stand (A) praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive (B) him, so that your Father (C) in heaven (D) will also forgive (E) you your wrongdoing 26But if you don't forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your wrongdoing."


Luke 6: 27-42

27 "But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (X) 29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, (Y) offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don't hold back your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks from you, and from one who takes away your things, don't ask for them back. 31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. (Z) 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. (AA) 33 If you do [what is] good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? (AB) Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do [what is] good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. (AC) For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. (AD)

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. (AE) Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (AF) 38 Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure;pressed down, shaken together, and running over;will be poured into your lap. (AG) For with the measure you use, [g] it will be measured back to you." (AH)
39 He also told them a parable: "Can the blind guide the blind? Won't they both fall into a pit? (AI) 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. (AJ)
41 "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but don't notice the log in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself don't see the log in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck in your brother's eye.

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