Forgiveness

Forgiveness

Matthew 6:12, 14-15, NLT

Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. . . . 14If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Setting the Scene

The next line of the Lord’s Prayer makes an important request but adds a significant condition. Sin includes both active and passive resistance to God. Instead of submitting to him, we turn away, disobey, and live the way we want. Because we are sinners, cut off from God, we are helpless and hopeless—unless he forgives us. Even as believers, we sin each day, so we must come to him for forgiveness, cleansing, and strength to go on. In prayer we humbly ask God to forgive our sins. But then Jesus’ prayer adds a condition, “Forgive us . . . as we have forgiven.” Jesus meant our forgiveness of others should reveal our understanding of God’s forgiveness of us. When believers understand the greatness of the forgiveness they have received, they willingly extend such forgiveness to others.

Jesus gave this startling warning: If we refuse to forgive others, God will also refuse to forgive us. This does not refer to salvation, because salvation is not dependent on anything people can do. But living in relationship with God requires constant repentance of the sins that plague us. Because believers must come to God constantly for confession and forgiveness, refusing to forgive others reveals a lack of appreciation for the mercy received from God. All people are on common ground as sinners in need of God’s forgiveness. If we are unwilling to forgive others, we are denying and rejecting God’s forgiveness of us (see Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). Later, Jesus would tell a parable depicting such a situation (Matthew 18:23-35).

Getting Personal

When have you held a grudge against someone—that is, you found forgiveness difficult to give?

How can remembering that God has forgiven you help you to forgive others?

Be careful what you pray for! When we so easily repeat the Lord’s Prayer, we pray, “Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” But do we really want God to hold us that accountable? May we be quick to forgive, extending grace to others in the same way God has extended grace to us.

Talking to God

If there is someone you’ve been having a hard time forgiving, picture that person beside you at the foot of Jesus’ cross—both of you needing forgiveness. Then focus in prayer on your own need for the Lord’s forgiveness—which is already yours because of the Cross.