(More Bible Studies Available @ www.marktabata.com)
To Receive These (And Other) Free Bible Studies And Updates Via Email, Contact Mark Tabata @ 606-216-1757 (Text Message) Or hazardhomecoc@gmail.com (Email)
Ephesians 4:32-And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
In the Parable Of The Unforgiving Servant, Jesus teaches us about forgiveness.
Matthew 18:21-35-Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
What is truly amazing is what we learn when we see the actual amounts of money in this passage. The debts are staggering in comparison to each other. William Barclay explains:
“The first servant owed his master 10,000 talents–and a talent was the equivalent of fifteen years’ wages. That is an incredible debt. It was more than the total budget of the ordinary province. The total revenue of the province which contained Idumaea, Judaea and Samaria was only 600 talents; the total revenue of even a wealthy province like Galilee was only 300 talents. Against that background, this debt is staggering. It was this that the servant was forgiven. The debt which a fellow servant owed him was a trifling thing; it was 100 denarii, and a denarius was the usual day’s wage for a working man. It was therefore a mere fraction of his own debt. The biblical scholar A. R. S. Kennedy drew this vivid picture to contrast the debts. Suppose they were paid in small coins (he suggested sixpences; we might think in terms of 5-pence pieces or dimes). The 100-denarii debt could be carried in one pocket. The 10,000-talent debt would take an army of about 8,600 carriers to carry it, each carrying a sack of coins 60 lb in weight; and they would form, at a distance of a yard apart, a line five miles long! The contrast between the debts is staggering. The point is that nothing that others can do to us can in any way compare with what we have done to God; and if God has forgiven us the debt we owe to him, we must forgive our neighbours the debts they owe to us. Nothing that we have to forgive can even faintly or remotely compare with what we have been forgiven. As A. M. Toplady’s great hymn ‘Rock of Ages’ has it: Not the labours of my hands Can fulfil thy law’s demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears for ever flow, All for sin could not atone. We have been forgiven a debt which is beyond all paying–for human sin brought about the death of God’s own Son–and if that is so, we must forgive others as God has forgiven us, or we can hope to find no mercy.” (William Barclay, Insights: Forgiveness: What the Bible Tells Us About Forgiveness, 236-257 (Kindle Edition): Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press)
Nothing can be done to us that can ever outweigh the debt that we owe to God. So when God shows forgiveness to us, we need to learn to extend mercy to others. Doing this, we turn everything over to God and let Him deal with the painful situations that have crippled us.
“But what if they don’t repent?”
Jesus asked God to forgive those who had crucified Him, even though they showed no repentance.
Luke 23:34-Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Stephen prayed for the Lord Jesus to forgive those who were stoning him to death while they clearly demonstrated no repentance.
Luke 7:60-Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
The psalmist prayed for God to show mercy to his enemies.
Psalm 83:16-Fill their faces with shame, That they may seek Your name, O LORD.
Jesus teaches us to forgive those who keep on sinning against us.
Matthew 6:12-And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
“But forgiving them will mean that I have to let them back into my life where they can hurt me again!”
No, it doesn’t mean that.
There are big differences between forgiveness and reconciliation. As one author has noted:
“Don’t get me wrong—reconciliation after an offense is wonderful. In fact, reconciliation is the ideal. It’s the goal to strive for. Still, forgiveness and reconciliation are not the same. In fact, their differences are many: • Forgiveness can take place with only one person; reconciliation requires the involvement of at least two persons. • Forgiveness is directed one way; reconciliation is reciprocal, occurring two ways. • Forgiveness is a decision to release the person who harmed you; reconciliation is the effort to rejoin the person who harmed you. • Forgiveness involves a change in thinking about the offender; reconciliation involves a change in behavior by the offender. • Forgiveness is a free gift to the one who has broken trust; reconciliation is a restored relationship based on restored trust. • Forgiveness is extended even if it is never earned; reconciliation is offered to the offender because it has been earned. • Forgiveness is unconditional regardless of a lack of repentance; reconciliation is conditional based on repentance. The bottom line is that reconciliation, unlike forgiveness, is a joint venture. It takes two committed people to repair and re-establish a damaged relationship. Reconciliation focuses on the relationship, whereas forgiveness requires no relationship. Both sides must reach out if reconciliation is going to work. With forgiveness, the forgiver must take a giant step forward regardless of what the offender does. With reconciliation, the offender and the forgiver take a giant step toward each other. Both parties must invest equally in the outcome. This means reconciliation requires a relationship in which two people are willing to walk together toward the same goal. As the Bible says, “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” 1”. (June Hunt, How to Forgive…When You Don’t Feel Like It, 121-122 (Kindle Edition): Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers)
“But forgiveness would mean I let him get away with doing this to others!”
No, it doesn’t.
You can forgive someone who wronged you while working to protect others from the same harm that was done to you.
Forgiving others is a great gift of God. It allows you to be free to live your life without the shackle of bitterness hardening your heart.
“But I am still hurt and angry, so maybe I haven’t really forgiven them!”
In the New Testament commands for God’s people to forgive those who have wronged them, they are often in tenses that express continuous activity. In other words, it isn’t “forgive them once and for all.” It is, “keep on forgiving them.”
Mark 11:25-And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
Also: why would experiencing feelings of hurt and anger over harm you suffered be the equivalent of unforgiveness?
Psalm 76:10 (ERV)-Even human anger can bring you honor when you use it to punish your enemies.
“But I don’t have the ability to forgive that person!”
Who says you have to do it alone?
Philippians 4:13-I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:19-And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
If they have wronged you, forgive them.
If they are sorry, forgive them.
If they aren’t sorry, forgive them.
If they could do the same thing to others, take appropriate steps to stop them, and forgive them.
If you have to say, “I forgive you” a hundred times in a day, do it, and forgive them.
If you remember the hurt, forgive them.
If you are angry, forgive them.
If you don’t have the strength, pray, “Lord Jesus, please help me,” and He will help you, and forgive them.
If you aren’t ready for a reconciliation with them, that’s okay: forgive them!
1 Peter 2:22-25 (GW)-God called you to endure suffering because Christ suffered for you. He left you an example so that you could follow in his footsteps. 22 Christ never committed any sin. He never spoke deceitfully. 23 Christ never verbally abused those who verbally abused him. When he suffered, he didn’t make any threats but left everything to the one who judges fairly. 24 Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so that freed from our sins, we could live a life that has God’s approval. His wounds have healed you. 25 You were like lost sheep. Now you have come back to the shepherd and bishop of your lives.
Father, help us to forgive those who have wronged us. We pray for them, and ask You to take care of the situation as You see fit. Heal our wounded hearts. Guide us in the Footsteps of Jesus. Amen.