“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone,
forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”
Jesus had just explained to the disciples what can be done
with prayer after Peter had pointed out that the tree which Jesus cursed was
withered away. Jesus tells them to
have faith in God. He assures them that
mountains can be moved by prayer. He tells
them that whatever things they ask and believe they will receive, indeed they
will have them. And then He tags on this
requirement of forgiveness. ‘If you have
anything against anyone, forgive him.’
In other words, you must forgive everyone of everything. No one and nothing is exempted.
This is no easy thing.
The world we live in today affords us too many occasions to be unforgiving. There are so many opportunities for others to
do wrong to us. It could begin within
your family. The family should be the
safest place on earth. Yet a sibling,
parent or child can say the most hurtful things. It could be more than emotional abuse, it
could be physical as well. Maybe a
spouse cheated on you. Maybe somebody
said something mean about you on Facebook.
There could be politics at a place of employment where people have flat
out lied about us. And politics? The talking heads seem to want us all to be
divided and hate each other. Further, we
have all encountered mean people during our commute or at a store or gas
station, or at school. And talk about
mean people, what about terrorists who are killing Christians around the world? The level of hate they foster is
unfathomable.
Yet we are not to have anything against anyone, anywhere. We are to forgive all. This may seem impossible. It is clearly not the way of the world.
The word forgive used in this passage is ‘aphiemi’ in the
Greek (Strong’s 863) and means ‘to send away, to let go, let alone, let be, to
give up a debt, to give up, to keep no longer, to leave, abandon.’ When we forgive, truly forgive, we are
letting go of the issue, giving it up, we abandon it. Therefore, when we do not forgive, we are
hanging on, keeping it close, calling out the debt, we are continuing to live
in the midst of resentment. Visualize
hanging on tight to something, and that something is what you have against
someone. Why do we clutch it like it was
something precious? Because we say that
person does not deserve our forgiveness.
That person needs to suffer for how they wronged us. That person is not worthy of
forgiveness.
Unforgiveness is unhealthy, it is hard work, and it never hurts
the person you have not forgiven, it only hurts you. All of the anger and resentment from
unforgiveness must be hauled around with us, into every relationship, into
every day, and into every night.
Unforgiveness is a poison that Satan can use against us. He can use it to ruin our health. He can use it to ruin our relationships with
people. He can use it to make us ineffective
in witnessing or ministering to others.
He can use it to interfere in our relationship with God. It has proven to be a great weapon in the
hands of the enemy.
Can you see yourself gripping tightly to unforgiveness? Visualize letting go. Your hands open, your fingers relax, and you set
free the subject that has exhausted you and controlled you for so long. You close your eyes, the tension leaves you,
and you are overwhelmed with a sense of peace. There is a large sign on Highway 70 in New Mexico with huge letters that simply reads 'FORGIVE.' It is not something I see everyday, so I forget it is there. As I turn the corner and I see it afresh, my reaction is to remember how I have been forgiven. Then I exhale and let go of anything I have against others. It is a purifying exercise that results in a joyful sense of peace. I highly recommend it! And I must say that I am thankful to the person that put
that sign there.
Forgiveness is important to God. He has done so much to forgive us. We did nothing to be worthy of His
forgiveness. We do not deserve it. And who suffered for our wrongs against
God? Jesus suffered. When we accept His gift of grace, the
forgiveness from God, we are to remember how undeserving we were and forgive
others. We are to be like Him. “For if
you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father
forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew
6:14-15)
Do not worry about punishment of the person that wronged
you. It is not for you to make them
suffer. Leave it in the hands of God,
trust Him. Who better to exercise
perfect judgment? “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for
it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)
I am not saying that forgiving means that trust is restored. We can forgive someone, maintain a
relationship and still have discernment from God that the person is not
trustworthy.
I am also not saying it is easy, that it may not take time,
or that you will not let it go only to try to pick it back up again. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, we
can forgive and let go. Through the
power of the Holy Spirit, we can resist picking it up again. It is supernatural. We can live without bitterness. “looking
carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of
bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” (Hebrews 12:15)
When Jesus said ‘stand in prayer,’ He was not talking about
a physical position. The Greek word for stand in this passage is ‘stēkō,’ (Strong’s
4739) and means to stand firm, persevere, to persist. Jesus is talking about persistent
prayer. Friend, are you persisting in
prayer for a loved one to see the saving grace of Jesus Christ? Are you persevering in prayer for the healing
of someone? Do your prayers seem
ineffectual? Ask yourself honestly, and
ask God to show you, whether you have anything with anyone that is
unforgiven? God takes this
seriously. He has forgiven us much, so
much, and He expects us to forgive others.
If we have not forgiven, we cannot be called righteous. “The
effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16b)
Jesus was the perfect lamb that was slain so that our sins
could be forgiven. He was raised from
the dead three days later. This same Jesus
wants you to forgive, so you will have peace.
Jesus wants you to let go and leave the judgment to God. He wants you to forgive so you can have a
spiritually fruitful life. Jesus also
wants you to forgive, so when you stand in prayer, mountains will be
moved.
May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
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