Genesis 50:17, Exodus 10:17, Exodus 23:21, Exodus 32:32, Exodus 34:9, Leviticus 4:13-35, Leviticus 5:7-19, Leviticus 6:7, Leviticus 19:22, Numbers 14:18-20, Numbers 15:25-28, Deuteronomy 29:20, Joshua 24:19-20, 1 Samuel 15:24-26, 1 Samuel 25:28, 1 Kings 8:30-40, 1 Kings 8:50, 2 Kings 5:18, 2 Kings 24:3-4, 2 Chronicles 6:21-31, 2 Chronicles 6:36-39, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Nehemiah 9:16-18, Job 7:21, Psalms 19:12-13, Psalms 25:11, Psalm 32:1-5, Psalms 49:15, Psalms 65:2-4, Psalms 79:9, Psalms 85:2, Psalms 86:5, Psalms 99:8, Psalms 103:3, Psalms 103:11-13, Psalms 130:4, Isaiah 1:18, Isaiah 2:9, Isaiah 33:24, Isaiah 40:1-2, Isaiah 43:25-26, Jeremiah 5:1-7, Jeremiah 18:23, Jeremiah 31:34, Jeremiah 33:8, Jeremiah 36:3, Jeremiah 50:20, Lamentations 3:42, Daniel 9:9-10, Daniel 9:19, Hosea 1:6-7, Hosea 14:2-3, Amos 7:1-3, Micah 7:18-20.

Matthew 5:23-24, Matthew 5:38-42, Matthew 5:43-48, Matthew 6:9-15, Matthew 9:6, Matthew 18:15-20, Matthew 18:21-35, Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 1:1-8, Mark 2:7-11, Mark 3:23-29, Mark 11:22-26, Luke 1:76-79, Luke 3:1-3, Luke 5:2-24, Luke 6:27-36, Luke 6:37-38, Luke 7:44-50, Luke 11:1-13, Luke 17:1-4, Luke 23:32-34, Luke 24:45-49, John 8:1-11, John 20:19-23, Acts 2:37-41, Acts 3:17-20, Acts 5:27-32, Acts 7:59-60, Acts 8:18-24, Acts 10:43-44, Acts 13:38-41, Acts 26:15-18, Romans 4:1-8, 2 Corinthians 2:5-11, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, 2 Corinthians 12:11-13, Ephesians 1:3-10, Ephesians 4:17-32, Colossians 1:13-14, Colossians 2:13-15, Colossians 3:1-17, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, Hebrews 8:1-13, Hebrews 9:18-28, Hebrews 10:15-18, 1 Peter 4:7-8, 1 John 1:5-10.

Jacob and Esau
Genesis 25, 27, 32, 33

Joseph and His Brothers
Genesis 37-43, Genesis 44-50

Love for Enemies
Matthew 5:43-48

Dealing With Sin in the Church
Matthew 18:15-20

Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
Matthew 18:21-35

The Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11-32

Jesus on His Cross
Luke 23:32-34

Woman Taken In Adultery
John 8:1-11

Instructions for Christian Living
Ephesians 4:17-32

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT

FORGIVENESS

During our journey through everyday life, we’re presented with thorny issues and delicate situations that, at times, may be perplexing and baffle us. As self-professed ambassadors of Jesus Christ (1), do we handle them in a Holy Spirit (2)-led manner? How do we know what to do or say? If we're trying to walk out a Christian life, the first place to turn for guidance are the Holy Scriptures (3). Examining what the Bible has to say about the trials or tribulations (4) we're experiencing leads to resolving the dilemma in a Supernatural manner.

As humans, we're wired for survival. When somebody wrongs us (knowingly or not), our first reaction may be to lash out at them. We want to make sure that person knows they hurt us. Another reaction may be to ignore the person and simply cut them out of our lives. A third response may involve plots of revenge- the old "eye for an eye" justice exacted in the Old Testament (5). These all involve unhealthy responses which, in turn, carry the potential of creating long term spiritual havoc.

Forgiveness lies at the very heart of the Gospels (6) and, therefore, is part of the foundation of any Christian's journey. During His greatest sermon ever- the Sermon on the Mount (7)- Jesus gives us instructions on how to pray (Matthew 6:9-15). A portion of what is now identified by many as "The Lord's Prayer" includes a stern but usually-glossed-over warning about forgiveness from the Son of Man:

"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

This should cause anyone serious about their relationship with Christ to spiritually sit up straight and carefully discern how well they have implanted extending and receiving forgiveness in their daily lives.

Genesis 4 (8) tells us that two sons of Adam (9) and Eve  (10) were named Cain (11) and Abel (12). After they were grown, Cain killed Abel in a fit of rage. Afterward, God (13) exacted His punishment upon Cain, telling him he would be "a restless wanderer on the earth.” Cain lamented that he could not withstand God's decision to drive him from his native land, exclaiming that "whoever finds me will kill me." But the Lord assured Cain that anyone who killed him "will suffer vengeance seven times over." As a hedge of protection, the Lord placed a mark upon Cain, who then went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

So, what does the Bible say we're supposed to do when someone wrongs us/injures us/sins against us? First, let's examine an Old Testament account where vengeance was exacted not by God but by a person who took it upon themselves to mete out retribution.

Fast forward down Cain's bloodline to a sixth generation descendant named Lamech (14), who first appears in Genesis 4:18. On a side note, Lamech was the first polygamist mentioned in the Bible, marrying two wives. In Genesis 4:23-24, Lamech launches into the first poem in the Bible. In it, he speaks to his two wives about killing an unnamed man for "wounding" him, waxing rather arrogantly, "If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.”

Moving dozens of generations forward to the New Testament (15), the Man from Nazareth is on scene and is proclaiming a much different message than that of Lamech's time. His message was challenging to "the way we’ve always done things" and many were unwilling and unable to adhere to it. They wondered…When someone sins against us, are we to gossip about them with others? Are we to exact the "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" compensatory punishment as set forth in the Old Testament (Exodus 21:23-25, Leviticus 24:19-21 & Deuteronomy 19:21)? Jesus answers these questions in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:38-42), as He begins to turn the first century culture upside down with His revolutionary approach to vengeance. He's still doing it today.

Further along in His Ministry (16), Jesus gave instruction with regard to sins being committed amongst fellow Believers- and how to handle them (Matthew 18:15-20). In a nod to the earlier Old Testament reference of Lamech comes The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35).

The Apostle Peter (17), known for his brashness and desires to impress Jesus, asks Him, "“Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Peter probably thinks the Lord will be impressed by the number he threw out here. But Jesus, as usual, shakes things up with His response, deflating Peter's number and his ego by installing an astronomical number that must have left everyone's spiritual head spinning on collective necks. Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times (ed note: see earlier Lamech reference). This Parable (18) hammers home what Jesus spoke of earlier in Matthew 6:9-15: how we forgive our sisters and brothers will determine how God forgives us. Romans 2:4 tells us that His kindness is intended to lead us to repentance.

Forgiving is different than reconciliation, an entirely separate entity. Additionally, forgiving someone does not mean you condone what they've done. It doesn't mean you want to be around them once the deed is done. Forgiving someone for what they've done to you does not mean they will be free from consequences in another arena and it doesn't translate into you forgetting what they've done to you. Nowhere does the Bible tell us to "forgive and forget." In 1 Peter 4:8, we're told that Love (19) covers a multitude of sin, but it doesn't necessarily make us forget what happened. What forgiveness does do is release any negative feelings we have with regard to that person or situation which harmed us. We are no longer bound up by self-induced resentments previously pent up within us. By setting the other person free, we are no longer a prisoner.

The good news is that when we repent, God no longer remembers our sins (Jeremiah 31:31-34 & Hebrews 8:12).

Conversely, a Christ follower unwilling to forgive others jeopardizes their relationship with God (Matthew 6:14-15), and risks giving the Enemy a foothold (1 Peter 5:8) in their lives and potentially limits their eternal reward (Hebrews 12:14–15; 2 John 1:8).

In the midnight hour during a spiritual struggle, we may internally exclaim in a private conversation with Christ, "Well, you just don't understand how betrayed I feel, Lord…" Yes, He does! (20) Jesus died on Calvary for our sins, in advance, thereby opening the door to eternal salvation for us. His Resurrection (21) 3 days later defeated sin and death for our benefit. We’re called to be His ambassadors here on Earth and, therefore, we must mirror His words and actions as best as humanly possible.

In closing, it is paramount to embrace forgiveness as a two way street. To receive it, we must extend it and vice versa. Walking this out will transform who we are.

Offered herein are a bounty of Forgiveness-related resources, which include a soul provoking video, a challenging video sermon, dozens of Old + New Testament Bible verses and more. For a printer friendly version of this page, please click on the PDF offered in the lower sidebar.

Modifications are welcome at goodnews@downriverdisciples.com.

  (1) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/jesus-christ

  (2) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/the-holy-spirit

  (3) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/the-good-news

  (4) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/trials-tribulations

  (5) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/old-testament

  (6) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/the-four-gospels

  (7) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/sermon-on-the-mount

  (8) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4&version=NIV

  (9) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/adam

(10) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/eve

(11) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/cain

(12) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/abel

(13) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/god-of-the-bible

(14) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/lamech

(15) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/new-testament

(16) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/ministry-of-jesus

(17) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/apostle-peter

(18) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/parables-of-jesus-christ

(19) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/love

(20) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/obituary-of-jesus
(21) https://www.downriverdisciples.com/resurrection-of-jesus