The Importance of Forgiveness.
Forgiveness is included in the Lord’s Prayer. After this manner, therefore, pray you our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done in the earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.Matthew 6:9-13.
Many will call this the Lord’s Prayer. This is a common belief in the lives of believers. But in reality, this could quite easily be called the protocol of prayer required in the lives of believers. Many, I included, have been in services, and when it comes to the end of the service, the minister will say, “ We shall now pray the Lord’s Prayer.
All we are doing is repeating time after time something that is not so much a prayer, but Jesus is laying down before us the correct principles that we are to adopt in our prayer lives. In reality, Jesus is bringing to our attention that we, through the new birth, are no longer citizens of this world, but we have been brought into the kingdom of God in this world, although we are not of this world.
Jesus desires that we become kingdom-minded believers. Jesus Christ teaches us that, as believers, we are to be mindful of our need for forgiveness from sins, or as Jesus calls, debts, and in turn we are called to forgive others their sins against us.
This clearly reveals that Jesus has never laid claim to this prayer as being his prayer because He has never had any sin of His own to ask forgiveness for. How essential it is to have access to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a sad fact that to many, the gospel in its whole content has been hidden from the lives of so many of the Lord’s people.
Do not withhold forgiveness from anyone. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14 – 15.
And when you stand praying, forgive if you have ought against any that your father also, which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive neither will your father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11 :25 – 26.
In the minds of many, precious lives, the gospel has been whittled down to just believing that Jesus Christ died for the sins of men and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. This, of course, is true, but the gospel is much more than this. The gospel must be preached as being the order of life that the Father has purposed for all who will acknowledge the lordship of Jesus Christ in and over their lives.
Jesus Christ has previously stated in His admonishment to the disciples and the multitudes concerning the life attitudes that are expected to be in our lives as we are living in the consciousness of being citizens of the kingdom of God. Judge not and you shall not be judged. Condemn not and you shall not be condemned. Forgive and you shall be forgiven. Luke 6 :37.
Jesus teaches the principle of the importance of how a believer treats other people around them. He is emphasising the important principle that how we treat others will affect how we are treated by the Father.
I have in the past simply read over these important exhortations of the Lord. I never gave myself to glean the truths from the lips of Jesus Christ. In the past I have been totally ignorant of the entire contents of the gospel and of their consequence in my life.
Herein is a vital truth that must be fully understood in the lives of all believers: if we withhold forgiveness to those who have offended us, if and when I may need forgiveness for any wrong thing that I do and I go to my Father with my plea for forgiveness, I face the prospect of the Father having to withhold His forgiveness towards me.
This is why it does not pay to be unforgiven. I will suffer more than those who have offended me. The thought of the Father withholding His forgiveness had never previously entered my mind until the Holy Spirit illuminated these vital truths from the words of Jesus.
And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have ought against any, that your father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:25-26.
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto Himself and set him in the midst of them and said, Verily I say unto you, except you be converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whosoever shall receive one such little child in My name shall receive Me.
But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones who shall believe in Me, it would be better for him that a millstone was hanged about his neck and that he was drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences. For it must needs be that offences come, but woe to that man by whom the offence come. Matthew 18: 1 -7.
I received a revelation from the Holy Spirit of the Lord as I was led to read this chapter. Verses virtually sprang out of their setting. The whole of this chapter lays specific emphasis on offences and of their consequences in the life of a believer.
Jesus Christ gives a stark warning against anyone who offends a child who has put their faith in Him. Although Jesus lays particular attention on a child, this can be stretched to include anyone, whether they are saved or unsaved, for we are, in a real sense, children of the Father. But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones who shall believe in me, it would be better for him that a millstone was hanged about his neck and that he was drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:6.
How many of us would think twice before we set out to deliberately offend anyone, in particular, a fellow believer in the Lord? Woe unto the world because of offences. For it must needs be that offences come, but woe to that man by whom the offence come. Jesus clearly teaches that the one who causes any offence is liable to suffer the greater consequence unless they seek forgiveness from those whom they have caused to be hurt by their offence.
Moreover, if your brother shall trespass against you, then go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he shall hear you, then you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear you, then take with yourself one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church. But if he neglects to hear the church, let him be unto you as a heathen man and a publican. Matthew 18: 15-17.
In this incident Jesus Christ teaches how two believers should handle a trespass or offence that has been incurred between them. Jesus does not want any rift between believers, for in discord there develops strife.
Forgiveness knows no limits. This is the unmistakable message of the conversation that Jesus had with Peter. Then came Peter to Jesus and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus said unto him, I say not unto you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven. Matthew 18: 21.
On another occasion Jesus declared: Take heed to yourselves If your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. And if he trespass against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to you saying, I repent, you shall forgive him. Luke 17 :3- 4.
I recall reading an article in which the writer in referring to this account concerning forgiveness to a brother who has caused an offence, they stated that it was the normal practise when a person is offended that the offended party be lenient to the offender and be willing to offer the hand of forgiveness for three offences committed. Peter was willing to go further and was willing to excuse a person’s offence against himself seven times. But Jesus teaches that forgiveness towards a person is limitless. In stating that the ability to forgive up to 470 times teaches that there should be no limitations on our ability to forgive.
This can be taken as an example to reveal to one’s own circumstances that this is how our Heavenly Father treats every believer who comes to Him in a spirit of genuine repentance and beseeches His forgiveness for our trespasses and our transgression against Him.
In the parable of the unforgiving servant, Jesus Christ teaches the imperative requirement of the right attitude of forgiveness being from the heart, and not from the head. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry and came and told their Lord all that was done. Then his Lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt because you had desired me. Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you? And his Lord was wroth and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my Heavenly Father do also unto you. If you from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses. Matthew 18: 31- 35.
Forgiveness must be from the heart. There is a twofold revelation in this teaching of Jesus concerning the aspect of forgiveness. The first is a warning to believers to avoid being imprisoned by withholding unforgiveness towards a person who has offended them. So often the believer who withholds genuine forgiveness towards a brother who has caused some hurt through an offence will inadvertently inflict more pain on themselves than that which was caused by the offence.
This happens because by withholding forgiveness, they allow themselves to be imprisoned through their wilful disobedience in not extending forgiveness to a brother. I heard a testimony of a woman who, for years, held unforgiveness towards another sister in the Lord, and her health began to suffer. She went forward many times for relief from her ailment, but without any improvement.
The Lord, through a friend of hers, said, if only you would forgive sister so and so, I am sure that the Lord would deliver you and heal you. This word was the key to this woman being healed. She contacted the sister who had caused offence to her and said I have held that offence in my life for so long. It has caused me more suffering than the time you upset me. But now I have forgiven you and the Lord has graciously healed me. Amen.
And the second important aspect is to understand that forgiveness must be heartfelt. It must be from the heart not the head. Forgiveness involves more than mere words, genuine forgiveness involves a positive action. Forgiveness is more than saying I forgive you but I will not forget what you did.
Forgive must include the eradication of any offence known. It must be forgiven and forgotten. It has been stated of the goodness of the Lord that our Father being merciful in His forgiveness wipes the slate clean. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Jesus prayed for the forgiveness of all of mankind: and when they had come to the place called Calvary there they crucified Jesus 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. And they divided his garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered saying he saved others let him save himself if he is the Christ the chosen of God. Luke 23:33- 35.
Father forgive them for they do not know what they do: There is a rich and vast revelation that everybody needs to receive and to retain from these eleven words that Jesus uttered on his cross of Calvary. The depth of these words are staggering to the minds of men. Even as believers, we fail to grasp the significance of these words.
When Jesus hung suspended between heaven and earth, He prayed to His Father to forgive the transgressions of the people, so often ministers limit the scope of for whom did Jesus prayed for.
I have heard ministers declare that Jesus prayed for those who were gathered at and around the vicinity of the cross. But the revelation must be fully received that the prayer of Jesus for forgiveness from His Father was for all people everywhere. From all nations and covering all generations.
This prayer offered up by Jesus Christ wrought forgiveness for all of the race of humanity, covering all the span of eternity. My forgiveness was wrought for my transgressions even before I had committed them. This is the reality of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ, through His prayer, enabled the Father to forgive me and at the same time wrought the healing and deliverance of all of my sicknesses. It is with deep sadness of heart to think that everyone who spurns this free gift of salvation and who will die in their sins will go into a Christless eternity, not realising that in the mind of the Father, full redemption, full salvation with its many benefits were made available for them. All they had to do was receive through the grace of the Father the gift of life and the right to be in union with the Father. All that was required was to be willing to repent and turn to the rock of their salvation.