THE LIMITS OF FORGIVENESS

THE LIMITS OF FORGIVENESS

Friday, October 24, 2014

 

2Timothy [GW] 3:15-17 From infancy you [Timothy] have known the Holy Scriptures. They have the power to give you wisdom so that you can be saved through faith in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God's approval. They equip God's servants so that they are completely prepared to do good things.

Matthew [MKJV] 6:9-15  Therefore pray in this way: Our Father, who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. 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 [KJV] 18:21-35 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

 

1. Only God is absolutely all-embracing love. (1Cor.13:4-8a; 1Jn.4:8)
2. Forgiveness not being separate from true love, God is absolutely all-encompassing forgiveness.
3. 1John 1:9; God is just; “just” meaning “equitable (in character or act); by implication innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively): - just, meet, right (-eous).” (Strong’s G1349) (1Jn.1:5 “…God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”)
4. God’s love/forgiveness is available but humanly not always operative because of lack of individual or group reception. Hence lack of human individual and/or group commencement.
5. Commencement and continuance of godly love/forgiveness is impossible without confession (agreeing with God about my condition) and repentance. (1Jn.1:8-10)
6. Biblical godly repentance is not behavior modification, it is John 3:10 Romans 12:2 changing mind to align with what God says by and in His Word (Jn.1:1; 2Tim.3:16-17); thereby realizing change of character that is obvious in word and deed.
7. God, being without need because He is light without shading of darkness, does not benefit in manner of human when He forgives.
8. We, shaded in darkness, not “just” as is God, are needy. When we forgive or are forgiven we benefit.
9. We are the primary beneficiary of forgiving others. We are lightened and freed.
10. As with God, godly forgiveness on our part does not necessarily mean the offender is free. This can be so even though God and we pardon; for recipient may rejoice and take advantage in relief but be unchanged in character; thereby walking unforgiven.
11. Forgiveness of others is unconditional requirement in order to live in God’s forgiveness. To not forgive is to not be forgiven by God. This *prerequisite is unequivocally stated in God’s Word. (Mt.6:9-15; 18:21-35; Mk.11:25-26; Lk.6:37; 1Jn.1:9-10)
      In Matthew 18:21 it is recorded Peter asked Jesus, "How many times should I forgive someone who does something wrong to me? Is seven times enough?"
      Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, explains “Till seven times? - Though seven was a number of perfection among the Hebrews, and often meant much more than the units in it imply, yet it is evident that Peter uses it here in its plain literal sense, as our Lord’s words sufficiently testify. It was a maxim among the Jews never to forgive more than thrice: Peter enlarges this charity more than one half; and our Lord makes even his enlargement septuple, see Mat_18:22. Revenge is natural to man, i.e. man is naturally a vindictive being, and, in consequence, nothing is more difficult to him than forgiveness of injuries.”
      Let us not carry calculator and record book. Forgive without accounting.
      Leave the secretarial labors to others; those that resentfully count; those that incorrectly count on forgiveness. (Mt.18:22-35)  EBB4
     

*Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible: “Matthew 6:14-15. For if ye forgive men their trespasses - If ye forgive others when they offend or injure you.

Your heavenly Father will also forgive you - This is constantly required in the Bible. See the notes at Mat_6:12. Our Saviour says we should forgive even if the offence be committed seventy times seven times, Mat_18:22. By this is meant, that when a man asks forgiveness, we are cordially and forever to pardon the offence; we are to declare our willingness to forgive him. If he does not ask forgiveness, yet we are still to treat him kindly; not to harbor malice, not to speak ill of him, to be ready to do him good, and be always prepared to declare him forgiven when he asks it, and if we are not ready and willing to forgive him; we are assured that God will not forgive us.”