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Matthew 6:12
Jesus saw the ongoing need for forgiveness in the lives of His disciples as living in the earthly world is a world that has been corrupted and sin abounds. Jesus came to provide forgiveness through the sacrifice that He would make soon after He gave these instructions for a prayer to our Father in heaven. But there is more than simply asking God for forgiveness. Jesus instructs in Matthew 6:12b, “As we forgive our debtors.” The requirement to receive the forgiveness of God is to be forgiving of others. The Apostle Paul states in Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV), “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
This is a promise of forgiveness if we are forgiving of others.
It is not right to ask God for forgiveness for our sins while we choose to be unforgiving of others. We may reply, “But they don’t deserve to be forgiven because they have done something that has been deeply hurtful.” The truth is that we have all done things that have been deeply hurtful to our Father in heaven. The Apostle Paul states in Romans 3:23 (ESV), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
God did not give us the choice to pick and choose who we will forgive and who we will not forgive while remaining in His forgiveness that sets us free from the eternal chains of sin. As Christians we are to be the reflection of Jesus in the world today. Jesus teaches us in John 13:34-35 (NIV), “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Please take note here that Jesus did not give a command that you may forgive if you want to or if you feel like it; He said that we must forgive others if we want to be recognized as His disciples.
I know this is a tough thing for some of you to take in as you may have scars from the past that continue to cause you pain. This may help: Jesus said that you must forgive, He did not say that you have to like the person or people that you need to forgive. What He does say is, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28, NKJV). And in the case of recurring issues, The Apostle Peter once asked Jesus (Matthew 18:21), “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” The answer that Jesus gave is this, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22). Jesus then tells a parable explaining His thoughts on forgiveness in Matthew 18:23-35 and ends it with this comment in Matthew 18:35, “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” The penalty is harsh for not having a forgiving heart, but this is another example of giving up our “self” and putting on the new life in Christ Jesus. We are to be His reflection in the world today – that means in obedience to Him. Please do not be discouraged by this teaching because if you obey Jesus, He will reward you for eternity with His forgiveness.
Dear LORD,
We all want and desire to be forgiven, but we all are slow to forgive others as it is our human nature to accuse and convict others, not to be forgiving. Dear LORD, we need Your Holy Spirit to fill us with Your love and forgiveness that overwhelms us to forgive others in obedience and humility to being a reflection of Jesus in the world today that we would bring glory to You through our lives – in Christ. Please let it be so LORD. In Jesus name I pray, amen.