Forgiveness is Divine
By
Shelby G. Floyd
Alexander Pope is credited with having said,
“To err is human, to forgive divine.”
These words are true. Every person who has experienced the divine forgiveness of sin through the sacrifice of Christ, and obedience to the gospel of the Son of God, understands something of the nature of forgiveness. Surely, no one would deny that it is human to err. The past history of mankind, and the working of one’s own heart, is evidence of the truthfulness of that statement.
Forgiveness
and the Model Prayer
In the model prayer, Christ taught the need to learn forgiveness; “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12.) After Jesus taught the model prayer, he commented upon the necessity of forgiving men their trespasses:
“For
if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your
Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15.)
Since forgiving other
men their trespasses is indispensable to God forgiving us our trespasses, it is
important that we learn the nature of forgiveness. To forgive someone is to
give up any resentment or claim to requital on account of an offense committed
by another party.
The Nature
of Forgiveness
Not only have the inspired writers of the New Testament taught and recognized the need to forgive men their trespasses, but writers through all ages have clearly seen this human need. William Shakespeare wrote,
“Who from crimes would pardon be, in mercy should others free.”
George Herbert has said,
“He who cannot
forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself.”
The
Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
In the parable of the unmerciful servant, our Lord taught the necessity of learning to forgive others of their trespasses. He said that the kingdom of heaven was like unto a king that made an accounting of his servants, and. one of the servants came before him that owed him ten thousand talents, and was unable to pay the debt. Because he was unable to pay the debt, the king commanded that the man, his wife and children be sold, and the price be applied to the payment of the debt. When the servant heard that, he fell down before the king and besought him to have patience with him and eventually be would pay him all. Of course, the man was incapable of doing that. Ten thousand talents would equal approximately $15,000,000 in our currency. It was very unlikely that the man would ever be able to pay off the debt because of the vast sum which he owed. Nevertheless, because of his pitiful condition, and no doubt out of regard for the welfare of his wife and children, the king had compassion on the man, and frankly forgave him of his entire debt, and it was no longer held against him.
This same servant that was forgiven of such a huge debt later went out and. found one of his own fellow servants that owed him a hundred pence, which would equal in our money approximately $15.00. When he demanded payment of that debt, the man entreated him for patience, saying that he would pay all. The man that had been forgiven of such a great debt was without human compassion; he had no sympathy upon the man in his condition, but absolutely demanded that be put in prison until he could completely pay the debt.
When his fellow servants saw what he had done, they were filled with righteous indignation, and desired that justice should be brought to bear upon the man that refused to forgive his fellow servant of a $15.00 debt. They told the king of what had transpired and the king brought before him he who had done such a thing; and because of his unmerciful attitude, the king delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all that had been due to him.
The Application of the Parable
The application of this entire story was made by our Lord when he said,
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of
you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:35.)
The debt which God has forgiven every one of his children is so huge that it could be compared to the debt of $15,000,000, which the unmerciful servant owed the king; but the trespasses of our fellow men, are so small in comparison to what God has forgiven, that it could be compared to the $15.00, which the fellow servant owed the unmerciful servant and which he absolutely refused to pardon.
How Often
Should We Forgive Our Fellowman?
If God has so graciously forgiven his children, they should be willing to forgive their fellow men. The question will often arise, how often and upon what conditions should one forgive those who have wronged him? The apostle Peter was concerned about that very question in the long ago. He came to Jesus and said,
“Then Peter came to
Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he
sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered,
"I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18: 21-22.)
The Jewish teachers of the law taught that a person should forgive an offending party up to three times; but Peter wished to be of a more magnanimous spirit than they, so he doubled that and threw in one for extra measure. Jesus emphasized that forgiveness involves an attitude of mind that is willing to forgive that brother upon the proper conditions anytime that it is necessary. When Christ said that Peter should be willing to forgive a brother seventy times seven or 490 times, he was using a definite figure for an indefinite. It would be highly improbable that any one person would offend another person 490 times, so Jesus is emphasizing by a definite figure that one should be willing to forgive that person as many times as it is necessary.
Should We
Forgive Unconditionally?
Sometimes people get the idea that one should forgive an offender without repentance upon his part, but Jesus instructed to the contrary, when he said,
“So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him.” (Luke 17: 13-14.)
Jesus teaches that one should forgive a brother that has
trespassed against him if he will repent of the wrong that he has committed. Let us emulate the divine nature by having a
forgiving spirit. Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved