Forgiveness
For the past several weeks, I have been thinking about the concept of forgiveness. My meditation on this subject sprang from a discussion I had with a friend (who does not reside locally), a brother in Christ, who had succumbed to a temptation that brought shame upon himself, his wife, and his family. Fortunately, he has been contrite, has asked his wife and family for their forgiveness, and has made confession before his church family asking for their forgiveness, as well. His transgression, shame, subsequent contrition, and compelling drive to obtain forgiveness has inspired me to revisit God’s word on the subject of forgiveness.
Jesus instructs His followers to seek one another’s forgiveness when discord exists between us. Consider the following commands of Jesus:
“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” — Matt 5:23,24
and,
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” — Matt 18:15
Observe that whether I am the offender or I am the offended in a matter of strife with a brother, I have an obligation to “leave” and to “go” mend that relationship. My brother, too, has the same obligation. I once heard someone comment on these two verses stating that Christians ought to be tripping over one another to forgive and to be reconciled.
The preceding commands of Jesus should be sufficient instruction to motivate Christians to be forgiving of one another. Unfortunately, we often fall short. We offend and are offended and remain in that state for long periods of time, sometimes for lifetimes, without any effort to make amends. Consider the teaching of the Holy Spirit at the writing of the apostle, Paul:
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. — Eph 4:31,32
How did “God in Christ forgive” you and me? Again, the inspired apostle writes,
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,… But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. — Eph 2:1-7
Recall Jesus’ supplication to God on behalf of those who crucified Him:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” — Luke 23:34
God, our Father, and Jesus Christ, our Savior, forgave us “when we were dead in trespasses.” Truly, Jesus demonstrated His desire for man’s forgiveness as He hung on the cross and uttered those words of intervention for those who put Him there. How forgiveness-oriented are we? Are we “forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave” us?
The parable of the unforgiving servant was told by Jesus in answer to Peter’s question, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” (Matt 18:21-35). Recall that the parable tells of a king who forgave a servant of a large debt. That same servant, however, laid hands on a fellow servant who owed him a relatively small debt “and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.” When the king was told, he called the first servant and said, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?” The parable states that the king “was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.”
Jesus left no ambiguity as to the intended teaching of the parable. He concluded the parable by saying,
“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” — Matt 18:35
At another time, Jesus taught,
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” — Mark 11:25,26
I hope that we all will examine ourselves regarding our willingness to forgive. If there exists a rift between you and brother or sister, I encourage you to seek forgiveness and reconciliation. Keep in mind that God in Christ has forgiven all of us the greatest debt — SIN.
Our disposition to be forgiving of one another will be much greater if seated in desire, not compulsion. I am persuaded that a desire to forgive others, and a desire to be forgiven by others, is evidence of spiritual maturity. In keeping with the sermons we’ve been hearing recently, unity will certainly be afforded to those who forgive and seek forgiveness.
