How important is forgiveness?
Families and marriages break up, ultimately because someone in the relationship refuses to forgive. Whether you’re talking about a friendship, a family, a marriage, or even a church, there isn’t a relationship where sin, in one form or another, doesn’t exist. Every relationship is then vulnerable, subject to offense.
Matthew 18:27-35, “”Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”
Notice how Jesus transitions into the matter of forgiveness, beginning in verse 21, with Peter’s inquiry about forgiveness. All of this follows the discussion of discipline and how we are to confront the sinner, and rebuke the sinner, restore the sinner.
It’s been said the we are the best defense attorney of our own sin, while simultaneously being the best prosecutor of others. When we receive forgiveness through Christ, our eternal consequences are removed, but the earthy consequences of our sin remain. Therefore, we must each do our part in restoring broken relationships. Asking for forgiveness from those we’ve hurt and forgiving those who have hurt us.
To forgive “from the heart” means that you that you can live with the fact that nobody would ever need to find out what the other person has done, as though they never did anything wrong.
Brian Monzón grew up attending church with his grandmother. Through her actions, she impressed upon him the power of the prayers of the righteous, as she herself spent many hours kneeling before God, praying for her family and the needs of others. Besides being a pastor, Brian has been studying and teaching the Word of God for many years. He has devoted his life to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, praying with and for others, especially the unsaved. Brian is also a proud father of four children. He challenges them to be their best and has strived to raise his family up in church and on the Word of God. To discover more about Brian and his ministry please visit Brian Monzón Ministries.
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Forgiveness brings healing and Blessings. it is empowered by the Holy spirit and reflects God’s love.