Forgiveness
“Forgiveness is the
best form of self-interest because it means you are no longer locked to the
committer of the crime.”
Joseph, son of Jacob,
forgave his brothers who had sold him into slavery and poverty in Egypt. He
wept with compassion when he saw them years later, poor and hungry in spite of
their one-time hatred for him. (Genesis 42)
Jesus mentions only one
sin in the Lord’s Prayer: lack of forgiveness. When Jesus reached the end of
the Our Father, he went back to elaborate on just one phrase: lack of
forgiveness. (Matthew 6:14-15)
A few chapters later
Jesus tells the Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor. (Matthew 18:23-35) Jesus
says the latter is ‘wicked’ for not forgiving and he is handed over to the
torturers (demons?) and “this is how my Heavenly Father will deal with you
unless you forgive your brother from your HEART.” In the same chapter, Jesus
says we must forgive 70 times 7, that is we must forgive people always.
(Matthew 18:22) What happens when we do this with a good heart and people do
not respond to our forgiveness? Jesus said “God will see justice done his
chosen who cry out to him day and night even if he delays to help them.” (Luke
18:6-7)
Jesus said: “Love your
enemies and pray for those who treat you badly.” (Matthew 5:43-48) Jesus
exemplifies this magnanimous forgiveness on the cross when he said: “Father
forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23-34)
“Vengeance is mine says
the Lord: if your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him drink,
for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by
evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:20-21)
“Christ suffered for
you, leaving you an example that you should follow… When he was reviled, he did
not revile in return; when he suffered he did not threaten, but he trusted to
him who judges justly.” (Romans 14:19) “Forgive each other as soon as a quarrel
begins.” (Colossians 3:13 J.B)
“Do not use harmful
words in talking… no hateful feelings… and forgive one another as God has
forgiven you in Christ.” (Ephesians 4:29f)
N.B. There is NO
healing or deliverance if we do not forgive!
