Forgiveness

Matthew 5:38-48

Today we wrap up the 5th chapter of Matthew.  These final verses of the chapter are perhaps some of the most difficult to put into practice.  How can we love our enemies, forgive them, or do good to those who ill-treat us?  Yet Jesus asks us to do just that.

I have to ask myself how do I treat those who ill-treat us?  There are two different types of people who would fall into that category.  First are those who treat us badly, but it is impersonal, meaning they didn’t specifically target us - like a driver who cuts us off, a store clerk who is rude, or the person who makes a nasty comment on the bus.  How do we treat them?  Do we respond in kind?  Do we make snide comments to myself about them, out of their hearing?  We are to bless them, not curse them, turn that other cheek.  One way is to not demand our rights behind the wheel or in line in the store.  We can give them up freely, and actually show in our lives what Jesus would do.  I should give justice and mercy freely, rather than always wanting to receive it from others.

The second group is the people who very specifically did something against us.  Someone who we know personally, who does something that they know would hurt us.  How do we respond to them?  The hatred can simmer for years, and then given an opportunity, flare out.  Or it can turn inward to become depression or bitterness.

In both cases Jesus says our behavior should be different from what the rest of the world is.  We are to respond in love and forgiveness.  Staying angry, bitter, and full of hatred reminds me of the story someone told me once, that it is like a person who is full of anger and bitterness against another, so he makes a potion of poison for that person, and then instead of giving it to them, they drink it themselves.  It can only hurt ourselves.

We may say to ourselves, “How can I love and forgive them?  You don’t know what terrible thing they did!” However, carrying unforgiveness of this sort is like carrying around a heavy burden. Think of that deed they did to you as a thick, heavy, long chain wrapped around you.  Do you want to carry that around your whole life?  No.  Then release yourself of it.  Cancel that sin-debt they did against you.  They may never ask forgiveness, but cancel that debt anyway, and release yourself from the burden.  Don’t let the anger hold any power or rule in your life anymore.  That doesn’t mean that what they did was okay, or to ever let them have another chance to hurt you or someone else again.  We need to forgive, and love them in the Name of Jesus.  Another way that helps us to forgive is to pray for the person who hurt us.  It is hard to remain in anger and hatred if we are honestly praying for someone.

Remember how much Jesus forgave us.  They may not deserve forgiveness, but neither do we.  We are to forgive if we want forgiveness for ourselves.  How can we do this?  We can’t on our own.  But through the power of the Holy Spirit, who indwells us as believers, we can do this.  Loving our enemies and doing good to those who mistreat us is not an easy task, but it will free us from the terrible burdens anger, hatred and bitterness bring on us.  And it will show the love of Jesus to a lost and hurting world, giving that light of witness to them.