“For If You Forgive"

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15 ESV)

Jesus often spoke in parables. The lost coins, the vineyard owner, and many more. However, this verse in the Gospel of John leaves no room for doubt about its meaning. There is an imperative and an indicative, as plain and simple as that.

Jesus gives us the imperative, forgive. In the Lord’s Prayer preceding this imperative, Jesus teaches the apostles to pray for the forgiveness of their trespasses or debts, just as they forgive those who trespass against them or are indebted to them. So, the imperative tells us to forgive.

The indicative tells us that when we live in this manner, God will forgive us, forgiving our sin debt. Jesus also takes it one step further, reminding us that if we do not live a life of forgiveness towards others, neither will God forgive us.

Jesus teaches forgiveness through His ministry. Peter asked the Lord, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22) Here, Jesus reminds us that forgiveness is not a one-time occurrence. If it were, we, in our sinful nature, would be in big trouble. We are to forgive a brother or sister as many times as they ask for forgiveness. God does this for us, right? Should we not do the same?

Then there is always a question about the severity of the offense. Forgiving a lie or a debt is one thing but what about the serious things, assault, murder, rape, robbery certainly we are not to forgive those, after all, for some of those things one could receive the death penalty or life imprisonment. We are surely not expected to forgive those things.

Let us look at this through an example. If I intentionally scratch the paint on a beat-up old car in a parking lot, I can be charged with a crime. However, if I were at a used car dealership and scratched a car, the penalty would be worse because the vehicle's value has now increased. Then, if I am at a new car dealership and scratch a car, the penalty increases again in proportion to the value of the damage. Lastly, I am at a Ferrari car dealership and I purposely scratch the paint on a car, I am almost certainly going to be arrested on the spot, facing an even greater penalty.

With God, there is no escalation in penalty. A white lie in the face of an all-holy God is a death sentence for the unrepentant sinner. Failing to forgive others means that every lie, every blasphemy, every theft, every profanity, every lustful eye will face the wrath of God instead of receiving mercy.

I'm not sure about you, but I know I'm not perfect. I need God’s grace and mercy every single day. Forgive and you shall be forgiven. It also makes us feel better. Harboring ill will in our lives only brings us down, spiritually depresses us, and consumes us with hatred.

“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25)

Grace and Peace!