"... The language of the fatherhood of God abounds in the Sermon and in the Community Discourse from which our two forgiveness texts are taken. As Robert H. Gundry has said, the manner in which the heavenly Father will deal with the unforgiving disciple leaves no room for misunderstanding the parable, and therefore no excuse for failure to forgive. The expression (“from your heart”) is important for the discussion. It also occurs in Testament of Gad 6:7 (“I forgive you from the heart”). In Matthew 18:35, it expresses sincerity and excludes all casuistry and legalism, as France has also suggested. The phrase (“from the heart”) shows that hypocrisy has no part in the kind of forgiveness that God demands. But the warning character of the parable shows that forgiving out of obedience need not kill sincerity, for a true disciple wants to obey his master. Commenting on the statement (“from the heart”), Luz says that forgiveness of sins involves both outward reconciliation with one’s brothers and sisters and complete affirmation of them. Sincerity is thus at the core ..."