Date Written: June 2025
Release Date: 26 June 2025
The Story
Within the first two weeks of me discovering that AI could put my poems to music, I woke up early on a Sunday morning and had the start of this song in my head. I could say it came to me, but I think I can confidently say it was given to me because I couldn’t come up with these lyrics on my own in less than a couple of hours. The first two verses are a paraphrase of a story which Jesus told and is recorded in Matthew 18:21-35. The third verse shows how Jesus practiced what he preached. The song culminates in a personal conviction to follow the lead of Christ and ‘forgive everyone who sins against us’ (Luke 11:4)
As he was dying on the cross Jesus forgave those who tormented him, betrayed him, abused him, spat on him, tortured him and made fun of him with the comment – Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34).
Often, we underestimate how often we fall short of God’s standards and therefore forget how much we are forgiven. The less we grasp how much we were forgiven, whether we knew what we were doing or not, the less we are inclined to forgive others.
However, in Matthew 18:35, Jesus has a harsh instruction which we must take seriously. Paul tells us in Colossians 4:13 that we are to forgive as Christ forgave us and Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 6:15 that somehow God’s forgiveness for us is dependent on whether we forgive others. Unforgiveness towards those who have wronged us not only imprisons us and makes us bitter and angry, it cuts us off from the will of God.
Forgiveness and reconciliation are not the same thing. Forgiving can lead to reconciliation but often that is not possible or advisable, especially if the other party is not repentant.
Lyrics
[verse 1]
There was a man in a faraway land, so the story goes.
He had borrowed from the king, no limit to what he owes.
One day he was called to account and ordered to repay.
On bended knee, he pleaded and begged, his life in disarray.
“FORGIVE! FORGIVE! Have mercy on me!
I don’t know what to do.
Let me go so I get the debt paid to you.”
The merciful king heard the plea, cancelled the debt and set him free.
[verse 2]
There was a man in a faraway land, so the story goes.
He had borrowed from the freed man, a small amount he owes.
One day he was called to account and ordered to repay.
On bended knee, he pleaded and begged, his life in disarray.
“FORGIVE! FORGIVE! Have mercy on me!
I don’t know what to do.
Let me go so I get the debt paid to you.”
The unmerciful man ignored the plea but soon felt the force of the King’s fury.
[verse 3]
There was a man in a far away land, so the story goes.
He is the King to which the whole world owes.
One day he called on his son to give his life in order to repay.
On that rugged tree, he pleaded and begged, his life in disarray.
“FORGIVE! FORGIVE! Have mercy on them!
They don’t know what they do.
Let them know of the debt I’ve paid to you.”
You have now heard the plea. Will you choose to be free?
[refrain]
“FORGIVE! FORGIVE! Have mercy on them!
They don’t know what they do.
You know of the debt that’s been paid for you.”
You have now heard the plea. Will you choose to be free? (Will you choose to be free?)
[outro]
Forgive! Forgive! Forgive!
And be set free.
CamisGWare 