As you take a second look at many of Jesus' teachings, you realized they were focused on helping us improve on how we treat one another. Actually, Jesus makes clear in several of the parables and examples he uses in today's devotional that how we treat one another plays a major role in our standing in the kingdom. How we treat one another is how we store up our treasures in heaven. In one story Jesus shared, he said; "Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
Matthew 18:32-35 NLT. From this parable, it means unforgiveness can separate you from the mercy of God because the master already initially had mercy him, but reversed it when he heard of how he treated another servant. In another encounter Jesus tells us about how important the treatment of others and neighbour will be in the kingdom; “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Matthew 19:18-21 NLT. In other words, how you treat people shows how much you actually love God, and to what extent your claim to love the kingdom of God is real.
