Forgiveness is first

These passages illustrate two things: first, to be included among the sons of God, a disciple must be willing to forgive even their enemies. Second, would-be sons who refuse to forgive their enemies exclude themselves from being or becoming “sons of God.” Moreover, forgiveness is concretely related to repentance (Luke 24:47) and to a disciple’s acceptance that the ways that Jesus proclaims as the way for Israel are indeed God’s ways (Mark 2:5).—The Disciples’ Prayer, page 80