If you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgression

 Good morning. People like to have a formula to guarantee that their prayers will be answered. And so they think that Mark chapter 11 verses 23 and 24 are the formula they need. But there is an addendum to that. Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. Remember: what good is it if you gain the whole world and lose your soul? What if all of your prayers were answered, but you were empty inside because you did not forgive others? Not all manuscripts have the next verse: but if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions. Skipping some more: Jesus was in the treasury of the temple watching how the people were putting money into the treasury, and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. This poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on. Have you ever thought about what happened to this woman? She put in all she had to live on. What did God do to reward her? Did He have someone give her a bunch of money? The problem with that is that sooner or later it would run out – then what would she do? Unless a widow had a son to take care of her, she was pretty much all on her own. Being elderly (I’m assuming) and a woman, she had no hope of getting a job to earn money. So when that money ran out, she would be right back where she started. The only way would be if some man “adopted“ her and took care of her like she was his mother. That’s like John with Jesus’ mother. Father thank You that You take care of us. No matter what happens, we will be well provided for.

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