Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
Matthew 6:14-15 – Why Must We Forgive?
Matthew 6:14-15 – “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.” (CSB)
Is Jesus saying we cannot be forgiven unless we forgive? Yes! But do we know why? Let’s go beyond the theological debates and get to the heart of the Sermon on Mount.
First, the SOM is very practical. It teaches us how to act righteously such as protecting ourselves from anger, lust, hate, hypocrisy, greed, and more. So how is not forgiving impractical? There’s more danger to refusing to forgive than just a bad mood:
• We RETALIATE in vengeance.
• We keep RECORDS of their wrongs.
• We REFUSE their repentance.
• We RUB it in their face.
• We REACT to everything they do – even when innocent.
• We RESPOND with bitterness, wrath, malice, unkindness.
• We start RUMORS.
Second, the SOM is spiritual. Jesus invites us to adopt a righteousness unlike and greater than the scribes and Pharisees (5:20). This is done by becoming like our Father: perfect, or complete, or fulfilled (5:42). So how is unforgiving unlike our Father? There’s a demonic quality to unforgiving:
• We REVEAL a corrupt heart and misrepresent pure RELIGION.
• We cannot be ambassadors of RECONCILIATION if we refuse to reconcile.
• We RENOUNCE the Cross since it was for forgiveness of sins.
• We REFUSE to be like God and thereby REPLICATE Satan.
Elsewhere Paul wrote, “10) Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11) so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs” (2 Cor. 5.10-11).
Not forgiving allows Satan to deceive us into thinking holding on to the hurt is easier. It’s not, in fact it is plainly impractical. But more than that, we forgive to be like God who has forgiven us…and maybe even the one we won’t!
Bryan Garlock and Perry Hall)
Comments