The Bible is replete on the subject of forgiveness. Our greatest example of forgiveness is the Lord Jesus Christ. While on the Cross, Jesus prayed to God, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Divine forgiveness is an attribute of God. In the “model” prayer the Lord Jesus taught His disciples, it says in part, “Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:11,12). The death of Jesus on the Cross was required by God to forgive man’s sins in order for him to be reconciled to God. And the writer to the Hebrews says “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22).
The dictionary describes forgiveness as “to stop feeling anger toward someone who has done something wrong, and to stop blaming someone.” Admittedly, forgiveness is not easy for everyone to practice. But as Christians, we have no option but to forgive others who have hurt or wronged us in some way.
The Bible has specific instructions about forgiving others. Jesus said, “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, forgive so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25). Jesus also said, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). It is clear that an unforgiving spirit affects our relationship with the Lord and also our fellow humans,
Man’s forgiveness was so important to God that Jesus was actually “made sin for us,” although there was no sin in Him. The Bible tells us that “For our sake [God] has made [Jesus], to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
It is only reasonable that we forgive others, considering that we are the recipients of God’s forgiveness in the first place. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (Colossians 3:13). Observe the imperative here, “so you also must forgive.” We have a divine responsibility to forgive others who wrong or hurt us in some way, shape or form.
If we choose not to forgive, we are being disobedient, because we receive God’s pardon and forgiveness for our own sins. In His instruction about prayer, the Lord Jesus specifically stated, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15).
There was an occasion when the Apostle Peter approached the Lord and asked Him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times’ (Matthew 18:21-22). This seems to be teaching us that forgiving others must be a “way of life” for the Christian.
Paul exhorts concerning the walk of the believer as in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). Here again we see the believer’s inescapable duty and responsibility to forgive others, which is strongly connected to our forgiveness from God. Also, forgiveness requires that we have a compassionate and understanding heart toward others.
Lack of forgiveness can lead to retribution towards those we perceive as being against us, hostile to us, or even hating us. The Bible addresses this situation as follows: “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Romans 12:17-19). Also, Peter writes, “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9). Perhaps Christians and even non-christians may find this hard to put into practice.
God is teaching us that forgiving others is required to rid ourselves of anger and resentment. We should not try to “get even” with the person who has wronged us. Prayerfully commit the matter to God and leave the consequences to Him. He said “vengeance is mine, I will repay.” And rest assured, we can count on God to keep His word.