3 Things Jesus Says About Forgiveness
If you are like me, you’ve had plenty of questions about forgiveness.
Do I really have to forgive that person or that offense? Do I have to forgive if my offender doesn’t ask for it? Why does the Bible tell us to forgive people anyways? I think the most important question we can ask is, what did Jesus say about forgiveness?
1 – Turn the Other Cheek
“If anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” (Matthew 5:39)
There will be plenty of times throughout the day that people will slight you and it may feel like a slap in the face. Maybe somebody lets the door close in your face, maybe an aggressive driver won’t let you merge in traffic, or maybe your spouse made a comment that rubbed you the wrong way. These are all small instances that you won’t even remember next week. For these small things, Jesus tells us to just let it go! The first step in forgiveness is to avoid retaliation, be quick to offer forgiveness, and simply move on!
2 – Win Your Brother
“If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.” (Matthew 18:15)
Sometimes people wrong us in major ways and work is needed to rebuild that relationship. Jesus encourages us to seek restoration with those who have wronged us. We can often think we are entitled to wait around for the offender to apologize. While a person should confess and repent of wrongdoing, Jesus’ instructions are clear: even if the other person doesn’t initiate the apology, we are called to move toward the other person to offer forgiveness and seek reconciliation.
One note to add: if you are facing abuse of any kind, use wisdom in attempting to reconcile in a way that keeps you safe and does not put you back in an unsafe situation.
3 – Father, Forgive Them
“Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
When we consider that Jesus was hanging on the cross while he said these words to the soldiers who had mocked him, beat him, and nailed his hands and feet to the cross; his display of forgiveness is almost incomprehensible!
Jesus forgave his enemies even as he died. But this comment doesn’t only apply to the Roman soldiers, your sin and my sin put Jesus on that cross 2000 years ago. And the glorious news is that his forgiveness is for us as well! We have sinned against God in more ways that we even know, but he is “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:8-12).
When we consider this truth, there is only one right response. We must confess our sins to God and ask for forgiveness for them. We can do so trusting Jesus paid the penalty and died in our place for us to be forgiven - fully, freely, and forever!
When we are forgiven of our sins and follow Jesus out of an overflow of love and gratitude, we will be quick to reflect God’s character as we offer forgiveness to others and seek to restore relationships. Paul summarizes Jesus’ instructions clearly when he says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13).