What He Taught About Forgiveness (Matt. 6:12-14)
Of all the words that we might associate with Jesus, forgiveness has to be right there among the top. Jesus and forgiveness go together. Amid the excruciating agony of the cross, and as soldiers and people derided and abused Him, the heartrending words stumbled out through quivering lips: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34, NIV). And in the Sermon on the Mount He went so far as to say that if we do not forgive those who offend us, then we should not expect God to forgive our offenses against Him (Matt. 6: 12,14,15).
What is Jesus teaching about forgiveness in each of the following passages? Mark 2:5-12; Luke 7:36-50; 17:3, 4; John 8:1-11.
The wonderful statements about forgiveness notwithstanding, what cautionary, balancing factors do we find in the following passages? (Matt. 12:31, 32; 18:6; Mark 14:21).
In Mark 14:21, Jesus uttered a woe upon the "man who betrays the Son of Man." But suppose that man were to confess and repent? In this connection, contrast the actions of Judas and Peter following their separate betrayals of Jesus. After witnessing Jesus' condemnation by those who had arrested Him, Judas, "seized with remorse," returned the betrayal money to the authorities; and his words seemed most appropriate: "I have sinned, for I have betrayed innocent blood" (Matt. 27:3, 4, NIV). In contrast to Judas' public display of regret, Peter's tears of penitence were shed in silence; nor did he return to Caiaphas' judgment hall to make amends for his shameful betrayal. Yet, the one was condemned, the other forgiven. What was the crucial difference?
How are we to understand forgiveness in a practical sense? For instance, a woman can forgive a husband who beats her, but does forgiveness mean leaving oneself vulnerable to more abuse? How can we forgive while at the same time be wise and prudent enough to protect ourselves and others from those who have violated our trust?
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