WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ON FORGIVENESS
By: Pastor Jack Guyler
IS FORGIVENESS A COMMAND BY JESUS?
Yes, Jesus commands us to forgive others as His followers. He makes it clear in Matthew 6:12-15 that we are to forgive others because God has forgiven us. Verse 12 is part of the “Lord’s prayer.” He is teaching us to pray for forgiveness and to extend forgiveness. Jesus taught throughout his ministry to His followers to not only receive but to give. What we receive from God we are to share and extend to others – including forgiveness.
HOW MANY TIMES ARE WE TO FORGIVE SOMEONE?
Peter asked this same question as recorded in Matthew 18:21-22. Jesus’ answer to Peter is the same to us – to forgive without limits. This is what God does for us. We may find it hard to believe that God forgives us every time we sin, but that is the heart and nature of God as revealed in the bible. You may find it even more difficult to keep forgiving the same people who commit the same offenses over and again toward you. But the message of Jesus is to continue to forgive. Where do we find the ability to do this? By drawing closer to God and allowing the Holy Spirit to flow through you to help you do things supernaturally that you cannot do in the natural (Romans 5:5).
WHEN SHOULD WE FORGIVE?
According to Jesus in Mark 11:25 we are to forgive as soon as we recognize we are holding something against someone else. Paul says a similar thing in Ephesians 4:26 that we should not let the “sun go down” without forgiving. This is a metaphor to say it should be done sooner than later. Why? Because the longer it goes, the more hardened our hearts will become against the offender. On a practical level, anything we let go becomes harder because we begin to over-think it, come up with reasons as to why we don’t need to do it and as procrastination sets in, we will find excuses why we should do it later. However, the longer we wait, we run the risk of becoming resentful and bitter the longer we ruminate about it.
WHY SHOULD WE FORGIVE OTHERS WHO HURT US?
The New Testament gives two reasons why we should forgive others who have hurt us or offended us. First, Ephesians 4:32 tells us “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” We forgive because we have been forgiven. Keep in mind, one of the meanings of “forgiveness” in the NT is gift. God has gifted us forgiveness. This means we have not earned it nor deserve it due to our good behavior; but God grants it to us out of the goodness of His nature. The second reason we are to forgive comes from 1 John 1:9 where it tells us that forgiveness is a practice (a daily spiritual discipline) where God not only forgives us but cleanses us. Being forgiven and forgiving others, cleanses our own soul from the toxins that build up within us when we carry unforgiveness in our souls – which lead to anger, resentment, envy, and bitterness. Many psychologists believe these can lead to severe mental health issues.
