FORGIVENESS IS NOT OPTIONABLE
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14- 15 NKJV
The only part of the Lord’s Prayer, or more accurately “the model prayer” that our Lord expanded upon was forgiveness. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” is modified by our Lord in His commentary to read “forgive men their trespasses”.
In an entirely different setting, Jesus repeated this in Mark 11:25-26 saying, "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."
We have all been impressed with the measure of forgiveness the Amish in Nickel Mines, PA. have shown in the past week. The Baptist Press, October 6, 2006 edition, reporting on the Nickel Mines, PA school tragedy in which ten girls were shot, five of them were killed, reads in part as follows:
“Charles Carl Roberts IV, 32, entered the West Nickel Mines School Oct. 2, took 10 girls hostage, tied them up and shot them before killing himself.
Leroy Zook, who had seven family members in the school when the gunman arrived, told The New York Times that one of the wounded girls told her parents what happened after the teachers and boys were released from the one-room schoolhouse.
“‘They talked with this gunman and asked him why he was doing this,’ Zook recounted. ‘And he told them why: he’s angry at God, he’s just bitter. He told them that they’re supposed to pray for him that he wouldn’t do this.’
Zook said 13-year-old Marian Fisher, before she was killed, sought to protect the others. ‘The oldest girl there, she said, ‘Shoot me, and leave the others alone,’ Zook told The Times.
“In television broadcasts since the shooting, members of the Amish community in Lancaster County have been asked how they’re dealing with the tragedy, and the Amish have said they have forgiven Roberts because Christ forgave them. The Amish also have reached out to the gunman’s family with forgiveness and compassion, according to media reports.”
MAN IS NOT PRONE TO FORGIVE
“Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22)
We have heard some say that Peter may have been trying to impress our Lord with his generous spirit of forgiveness by asking Him if he should forgive his brother “up to seven times?” Whether that is the case or not, you decide; but our Lord made it clear that the number is much higher. Indeed “seventy times seven” equates to infinity. There is to be no limit placed on forgiving our fellow man. Jesus continued his answer to Peter by telling the parable of the “unforgiving servant”.
"Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents (@ $10,000.000). "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. "The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ’Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii (@ $20,); and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ’Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ’Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.
“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. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ’You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses." (Matthew 18:23-35).
Our Lord makes it abundantly clear that complete forgiveness “from the heart” regarding anyone’s trespass against us is necessary if we hope to have the Father’s forgiveness. Those of us who believe in the eternal security of the believer will have to state that the Holy Spirit who has sealed us unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30) permits no room in the true believer’s heart for an unforgiving spirit. God’s Holy Spirit and an unforgiving spirit are not compatible. Light and darkness are not present in one place at the same time. The two cannot continually coexist in any human heart, ultimately one or the other will prevail.
AN UNFORGIVING SPIRIT GRIEVES THE HOLY SPIRIT
Paul admonishes the church at Ephesus to not grieve the Holy Spirit. The Apostle is telling “the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus” (Eph 1:1) that they can grieve the Holy Spirit by their actions and attitudes. He writes, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:30-32).
It is obvious that we have two divergent statements that need reconciliation. How do we reconcile what Jesus said in Matthew 18:16 ”But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” with Paul’s admonition to the saints to “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” If some level of an unforgiving spirit was not evident in the hearts of some of the Ephesian saints, why would Paul bring attention to it?
I think the answer is to be found in the word “permanency”. Having an unforgiving spirit in one’s heart grieves the Holy Spirit. This results in deep conviction of sin against the Holy Spirit, resulting in the true believer praying for forgiveness and for strength to overcome sin in their life. The Father hears their prayer, observes their contrition, forgives their sin, and restores the sweet fellowship that previously existed.
GREAT EXAMPLES OF FORGIVENESS
Our Amish brethren have shown us how forgiveness can be a driving force in our lives but we have two other great examples that should further encourage and motivate us. Consider:
Our Lord Jesus Christ:
“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. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." Luke 23:33-34. No act of forgiveness can ever compare to the wonderful forgiveness expressed by our Lord Jesus while enduring His great suffering on the cross. Are we not to be like Him?
Stephen:
“They stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ 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.” Acts 7:59-60. It is not difficult to find a Christian in the early Church that did not follow his Lord’s example of forgiveness. Stephen was human just as we are. The stones that cut and bruised him brought him great suffering and pain until the final stone was thrown that ended his life. Should we not strive to live and witness for Him, as did Stephen, even unto death if needs be?
Yes, through Christ Jesus and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, we can live a life that allows no room in our heart for bitterness, hatred, prejudice or an unforgiving spirit!
