Have you ever asked the question ”just what does this mean?
I have. I use to look for reasons not to forgive. I guess in my inner most mind I felt as though there had to be certain offenses that were the exception to this rule. If someone hurt me so deeply, surely that was an exception. What if someone slandered me? What if it cost me my job? What if my spouse left me? What if I was falsely sent to jail because someone lied? What if someone murdered a family member? What if the offender doesn’t ask to be forgiven?
My guess is that all of us have asked these questions at one time or another. To find the answer, there is but one place to look for the answer, God’s Word.
The following are passages I found relating to this subject. There are many others as well.
25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” –Luke 10:25-28
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. -Matthew 5:38-45
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. –Matthew 5:21-26
32 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary , there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” -Luke 23:32-34
Jesus not only commands us to treat others the way we want to be treated and to forgive, He lived it. If we call ourselves Christians (Christ-likeness), ought we to act like Him? If He can forgive us for putting Him on the cross, surely we can forgive whatever others do to us.
If none of us repented and received Christ, He wouldn’t have had to die. Every one of us are responsible for His death. That is how much He loves us and lived what He preached.
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