To Err Is Human; To Forgive Divine Series

Jesus taught we should not be the kind of person who seeks to get even. In Matthew 5:38-39 He said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” “An eye for an eye” may sound cruel, but at the time this Old Testament law was given, it was merciful. Human nature demands if someone blinds you in one eye, you want to kill them. The Old Testament law taught limited revenge. If they broke out your front tooth, you should limit your revenge to breaking out their front tooth. But someone said “An eye for an eye would leave the whole world blind” so Jesus introduced the concept of grace–not responding in anger, but giving people what they need–forgiveness. It was a revolutionary concept, and it still is. Forgiveness is expensive, but it’s not nearly as expensive as seeking revenge.

4. FORGIVENESS IS NOT EASY—IT’S IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT GODS’ POWER

Forgiving someone who hurt you is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. I recently read the funny story about a man who was trying to cross a street. As he stepped off the curb, a car came screaming around the corner toward him. The man sped up to hurry across, but the car swerved toward him. So he turned around and headed back toward the curb, and again, the car changed direction to head toward him. The man was so scared he just froze and stopped in the middle of the road. The car barely missed him and screeched to a stop beside him. The window came down and there was a squirrel behind the steering wheel. The squirrel said, “See, it’s not as easy as it looks, is it?”

Forgiveness is not as easy as it sounds either. In fact, it’s impossible without God’s power. I’ve heard people say, “But I just CAN’T forgive him/her for what they did to me.” My reply is often, “You’re right, you can’t, but God can forgive them through you.”

In order to truly forgive someone, you must make FOUR PROMISES:

1. I choose not to think about this incident. Remember, it’s impossible to forget it, but you can choose not to think about it.

2. I do not want to harm you for this incident. This is your willingness to release them from your desire to take revenge on them. People often misunderstand this point. If someone committed a crime against you, forgiveness doesn’t prevent you from allowing the law to execute justice. But forgiveness requires you do not personally become the judge, jury, and executioner for what they’ve done.

3. I will not bring up this incident again. This promise would heal many marriage wounds. One husband told a friend, “When my wife and I argue, she gets historical.” His friend said, “Do you mean hysterical?” The husband said, “No, she gets historical–she brings up all the mistakes I’ve ever made.” When God forgives our sin, he buries them in the depths of the sea and he never goes fishing for them. When you forgive someone, don’t keep resurrecting the incident.

4. I will not allow this incident to stand between us. True forgiveness wipes the slate clean and a broken relationship can be restored. That’s what happens when God forgives us. Our sin has separated us from God and His forgiveness removes the wall of separation so we can have a personal relationship with Him.