Jesus Emphasized Forgiveness

 

The Bible is full of lessons and illustrations on forgiveness.  Here are a few from the teachings of Jesus.

 

Jesus taught,

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.  Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.  Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.  Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.”

Anger is like murder because both have as their goal the desire to hurt someone for personal benefit.  This is not love.

Jesus goes on to say to His Jewish listeners that it is more important to go and try to bring about reconciliation with an offended person than to worship God with a priest at the altar in the Temple courtyard in Jerusalem.  For a Jewish listener this would be a shocking statement as the altar was as close to God as a non-Levitical, Jewish man could come.  Jesus was saying that working to bring about reconciliation, which includes asking for forgiveness when a sin has been committed, is more important to God than outwards acts of ceremonial worship!

Jesus continued this emphasis on forgiveness by saying that we must do everything we can to make matters right when we have wronged someone before we have to face the full consequences of our sin.  If we do not do this we will find ourselves in a kind of prison, from which we cannot get out.” 

Matthew 5:21-26

When Peter asked Jesus how often he had to forgive someone who sinned against him, Jesus said,

“Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.  When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.  But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.  So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, “Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.”  And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.  But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, “Pay back what you owe.”  So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, “Have patience with me and I will repay you.”  But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.  So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.  Then summoning him, his lord said to him, “You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?”  And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.  My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.’” 

Matthew 18:21-35

Jesus emphasized that there is no limit to the number of times we need to forgive the people who sin against us because our own well-being and freedom depend on it.

Jesus also taught,

“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.  But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.  Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” 

Matthew 18:15-18

Practicing forgiveness towards someone who has offended you is a serious matter.  It has heavenly implications.

Jesus also taught,

“Pray, then, in this way:

‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’  For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”  Matthew 6:9-15

How we forgive others has a direct bearing on how we experience God’s forgiveness in our lives.  Forgiving other people is listed in importance with receiving our daily food and being delivered from temptation and evil.