Larry Jones/Church of Christ minister
Forgiveness ranks high on any list of important topics. One of the last acts of our Savior on the cross concerned his prayers for the forgiveness of the very men who crucified Him (Luke 23:34). Jesus tells us to seek reconciliation and forgiveness if we have wronged a person (Matthew 5:23-24). Certainly we understand our need to seek forgiveness whether from God or man. Also in the scriptures we find a need to not just forgive but to actively seek to forgive others.
The lesson of forgiveness begins with a question, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus answers the question by calling a small child saying we must become, “converted and become as little children” (Matthew 18:3). A small child is pure and innocent and has no need of God’s forgiveness. But that will change.
Jesus warns concerning those who tempt and cause young ones to sin. We eventually will sin (Romans 3:23; Matthew 18:7). The Lord states that it would be better to hang a milestone around our necks and plunge into the sea than cause these innocents temptation which lead to their sinning (Matthew 18:6-7). Christ demonstrates the seriousness of sin in His next statements (Matthew 18:8-9). “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you” (Matthew 18:8). Jesus is not teaching self-mutilation but the real importance of controlling our sin. The use of hyperbole (overblown language to make a point) doesn’t demean the point. Hell should be no person’s destination of choice, but by our choices many head for the condemnation of hell. We require God’s forgiveness.
In addition, we must search out those who need our forgiveness. Peter questions about those coming to ask forgiveness (Luke 17:3-4). But Jesus brings up the situation of a brother sinning against you and you going to him (Matthew 18:15-17). Whether he comes to you or you go to him you must in both cases tell him he has done wrong (rebuke him). Hopefully he will repent and you will forgive him (Luke 17:3). If he doesn’t repent you must seek him again this time bringing another brother or two brothers with you. If finally the brother does not repent you must bring it to the church. Christ expects effort out of us in our forgiveness.
Let us look at the penalty for not forgiving. The parable of the unforgiving servant involves two men and their attitudes about forgiving (Matthew 18:21-35). A servant owed his master a great debt which the servant could not pay. The master forgives this servant his debt. In a similar circumstance another servant owed the first servant a much smaller sum but still the other servant could not pay. But the first servant did not forgive his debtor. When the master finds out about this he repeals his forgiveness of the great debt and demands payment.
In the model prayer Jesus teaches to pray for forgiveness. God counsels us. “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:15). We must seek to be forgiven by God and man. We must be forgiving of others and even seek others to forgive them.
“And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31). Similarly in forgiveness we must be forgiven by God and forgive Him of any supposed hurt He has dealt us in life. We must likewise forgive others. And we must forgive ourselves.
Paul could have had great difficulty in his life. God had forgiven Him for his persecution of the Church: “For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it” (Galatians 1:13). Elsewhere he called himself chief of sinners (1 (Timothy 1:15). But Paul looks forward to what he could achieve and not backwards. True repentance involves stopping what was done in the past and acting better in forward to the future (Philippians 3:12-14).
The perfect triangle of forgiveness we see in forgiveness of God, our forgiving each other and our willingness to not be haunted by our mistakes but to forgive ourselves.
Larry Jones is a Church of Christ minister. His preaching career has included stops at churches all over Northeast Texas.