Because of our sinful nature, we human beings often hurt each other with our words more times than we care to admit. We find ourselves saying and hearing the words, "I'm sorry," often. When others hurt us with their words, we have to make a decision: Will we retaliate with more hurtful words or choose forgiveness? The world would encourage us to retaliate with more hurtful words, but Scripture teaches us a better way: to offer forgiveness through our words and actions. After all, Christ has forgiven us greatly.
Although the world teaches revenge and holding grudges, Scripture teaches us a different way to respond. Ephesians 4:31 calls followers of Christ to, "get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior." Instead of anger and revenge, Paul says to "be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you" (verse 32). Because we follow Christ, we are to put on an attitude of kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness. Even more, we have been forgiven greatly by Christ. Because of the forgiveness that Christ has so generously and elaborately shown us, we must also forgive. Even more, Jesus taught that there is no limit to the forgiveness that we are to offer. When Peter, Jesus’ disciple, asked Jesus how often we are to forgive others in Matthew 18, Jesus said that we must forgive “seventy times seven” (verse 22). By His answer, Jesus was communicating we must always offer forgiveness.
Have you been harboring feelings of anger or unforgiveness? It is time to let go of them today and to choose kindness and forgiveness instead. Remember, Christ has forgiven you. Those who have experienced such forgiveness must also extend the forgiveness they have been shown.
Is there someone you need to show forgiveness to today? Maybe you have had a hard time forgiving someone even though they have apologized for how their words or actions have hurt you. Spend time today praying for them. Ask God to give you a spirit of forgiveness and to help you forgive that person who has hurt you. Look for an opportunity this week to extend forgiveness, remembering just how much God has forgiven you.
21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.
26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.
29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.
31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
