Who is there who can look back over his past life without fear? Have all my past offences been forgiven? May it not be that I am still the object of God's anger on account of my many sins, my disloyalty, my meanness, my sensual indulgence, my pride, my selfishness, my unkindness to others, the scandal I have given, my neglect of prayer, my love of this present world? How am I to secure the indulgence of my judge?

Our Lord here tells us implicitly the condition that God imposes. It is one which seems most marvellously, most disproportionately easy of fulfilment, when we think what God is and what we are and consequently how terrible a thing it is to offend Him. All we have to do is to remit the hundred pence our neighbour owes us, and then God will forgive the ten thousand talents that we owe Him. I have simply put away all resentment, to have no wish to retaliate. This sounds easy, but is not at all so. Yet it is absolutely necessary for our own forgiveness.

This forgiveness of others depends for its merit:--(1) On whether we have really anything to forgive. (2) On our own natural disposition. Some people have no temptation to resentment. (3) On our readiness to forgive any possible injury that might be inflicted on us. (4) On our motive, in that our forgiveness is an imitation of the forgiveness of the Son of God, and is granted to others for His sake. (5) On our readiness to do actual good to those who have injured us. (6) On wishing them no sort of harm or punishment. Do I fulfill these conditions?