"Father, Forgive Them"

Matthew 6:14-15 "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."

    One of my very first memory verses from the Bible came from "The Lord’s Prayer.” This prayer has been memorized and quoted by the masses, both Christians and non-believers. I remember quoting this prayer as an unbeliever on Friday night prior to taking the field to play football. I have heard it quoted by coaches leading their little league baseball team before playing their game. I have heard this prayer quoted by pastors when called on to pray. There is absolutely nothing wrong with quoting these scriptures; however, I do not believe Jesus wanted people to only quote the scriptures, but for believers to live them out.

     I am not sure Jesus is impressed with our memorization capabilities as much as He is with us living out what we memorize. Jesus said in Matthew 6:7,  "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.” These phrases, “empty phrases and many words” were a rebuke on the religious crowds who would pray to be heard by others, but their prayers were empty of meaning. This is what happens when scripture becomes so familiar that we fail to apply it to our lives. The quote, “Familiarity breeds contempt” is both true and dangerous.

     When it comes to "The Lord’s Prayer,” I believe one of the most neglected verses is found at the conclusion of the prayer. These verses are often said in haste in order to finish the prayer. However, I believe that they hold the key and ability for believers to walk in the freedom of Christ. Those verses are on “forgiveness.” Forgiveness tends to be something only weak people do, but the reality is that forgiveness is what Christians are commanded to do. Forgiveness is not an option, but a command. But, how do you and I forgive others, especially our enemies? We are unable to forgive them in our own ability, but by the grace of God in the power of the Holy Spirit.

     It doesn’t take living in this world to realize that people can and often hurt us. It’s not a matter of if they will hurt us, but when they will hurt us. This is why it is so important to have a biblical worldview, so that when we are hurt, we are able to look into the Word of God and read how God would have us respond. One man told me, “Things will happen in life, and what matters the most is how will we respond when life happens.” 

 1. Why should Christians forgive others?

     First, we should forgive others who hurt us because God commands us to forgive others. In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus clearly reminds His disciples that if they do not forgive others, then they too will not be forgiven. It seems pretty cut and dry. The Christian should not ask if they should forgive, but rather if they have forgiven. 

     Not only does Jesus command forgiveness, but the consequences of not forgiving will lead to “bitterness.” The Apostle Paul told the church at Ephesus, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph.4:31-32). Bitterness, wrath, and anger are like cancer in the life of a believer. If they are not dealt with, they will eventually cost them their lives. Therefore, the believer must forgive others.

2. How should Christians forgive others?

     Col. 3:13 "bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” 

      Christians are first commanded to forgive because they are able to forgive. How are they able to forgive? The Christian is able to forgive because God in Christ has forgiven them. This is the only reason anyone is able to forgive. However, forgiveness is more than a mental ascent. Biblical forgiveness will always lead to reconciliation. This means the offender will have acknowledged their offense toward the other party, the offended will accept their repentance, and the two will walk together in reconciliation.

      This is what God has done for us in Christ. We, as sinners, had offended our Holy God due to our rebellion, rejection, and sinful state toward Him. We were His enemies who hated God and wanted to be our own God, rejecting Him and His Word. However, God, in His grace, sent the good news of the gospel to us along with the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sin, then lead us to repentance and faith to believe upon Jesus. God took those who had offended Him, forgave them in Christ, and now, we are made “at one” with Him. We have been reconciled to God because of what Christ has done for us in dying for our sins upon the cross. This is the only way anyone can truly forgive--because Christ has forgiven us.

     In conclusion, this past week I was in a conference where a Pastor John Fry said, “What if God forgave you the way you forgave others?” 

Would you be forgiven? What would that look like? Would you be reconciled to God? Do you pick and choose how you forgive?

May God grant us the grace to say like Jesus, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).