Forgiveness

All of us have read this story from the Bible several times. Mentioned in Mathew 18:21-35, where Peter questioned Jesus that how many times should he forgive his brother, until seven times? And Jesus answered not seven but seventy times seven. Means there is no limit of forgiveness, and we have to forgive every time.  

• Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?
• Jesus said to him, I say not to you, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven.
• Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
• And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought to him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
• But for as much as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
• The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.
• Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
•  But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that you owe.
•  And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and sought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.
•  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
• So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done.
• Then his lord, after that he had called him, said to him, O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you desired me:
• Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you?
•  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due to him.
• So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you, if you from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.

Forgiveness is also one of the keys to salvation, because in Lord’s Prayer, we daily pray to God that, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. In Mark and Mathew it is clearly said that if we do not forgive others who trespasses against us, our Father will also not forgive our trespasses. See Mark 11:25 says that “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” If we do not forgive, its answer lies here in Matthew 6:14-15 where it says “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.”

Why it is necessary for us to forgive each other. Ephesians 4:32 says “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

James 5:16 also says that “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

See what God says in Isaiah 43:25, “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” It further says in Isaiah 44:22-23, “I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel.”

Bible says that if anyone sins against us seven times a days and turns back to us and ask for forgiveness, we have to forgive. Read Luke 17:3-4 where it is written “Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

All of us know that Jesus prayed for our forgiveness from the cross. As, it is said in Luke 23:34, “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they cast lots to divide his garments.” Jesus himself showed us the way that we have to forgive everyone, every time. There is no counting, no calculation that how many times we have forgiven.

In the same way fasting and praying does not make any sense. If we have any grievances with anyone, first we should settle it and then come to Lord. See Matthew 5:24 what does it says “Leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

Bible in Romans 12:17 say that we should not repay evil for evil, but guide to do honorable decision. See “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.”

Now the question arises that how can we do this? Have we ever noticed that how many blunders and mistakes we commit during a day? How many times we lie, how many times we curse others, how many times we cheat and so on. But our Father in heaven, who is full of mercy and forgiveness, forgives us every time, when we repent and ask for His forgiveness. As written in Daniel 9:9, “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him.”

In the same manner we should also forgive others. This is possible only through love. To love one another we should possess fruit of Holy Spirit and this Holy Spirit will not only provide us with love but also blesses us with so many other gifts as joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness etc. which will provide us the strength of forgiveness. See Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”