When our children are fighting with each other, we try to get them to understand the other person’s story. Understanding leads to empathy and then to compassion. Peter wanted Jesus to give him permission to withhold forgiveness.
In Matthew 18, Jesus told the story of a worker who had his large debt forgiven, but cruelly punished a fellow worker for a small unpaid debt. “Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'”
Reluctant Retiree 