Forgiving As You Are Forgiven

"Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. . . . For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions" (Matt. 6:12, 14-15).

It's possible to confess your sins and still not know the joy of forgiveness. How? Failure to forgive others! Christian educator J. Oswald Sanders observed that Jesus measures us by the yardstick we use on others. He didn't say, "Forgive us because we forgive others," but "Forgive us even as we have forgiven others."

An unforgiving Christian is a contradiction in terms because we are the forgiven ones! Ephesians 4:32 says, "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." God forgave us an immeasurable debt, saving us from the horrors of eternal hell. That should be motivation enough to forgive any offense against us, yet some Christians still hold grudges.

Here are three practical steps to dealing with the sin of unforgiveness. First, confess it and ask the Lord to help you mend the relationship in question. Second, go to the person, ask for forgiveness, and seek reconciliation. You might discover that he or she wasn't even aware of the offense. Third, give the person something you highly value. This is a very practical approach based on our Lord's teaching that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matt. 6:21). Whenever I've given a book or other gift to someone who has wronged me, I've felt a great sense of liberty in my spirit. In addition, my joy is compounded because I feel the joy of giving as well as the joy of forgiving.

Don't ever let a grudge stand between you and another person. It will rob you of the full joy of God's forgiveness.

Before praying, examine your heart. If you harbor bitterness toward another person, follow the procedure given above. Then pray, thanking the Lord for the joy of reconciliation.

What question prompted the parable? How did the king respond to his servant's pleading? What did the servant do later on? Why was that wrong?

If we regard iniquity in our hearts, God will not hear us- if we harbor ill will towards others by not forgiving them, God will not hear us and we might as well not even pray for anything-

It’ easy to say we forgive others, and yet still hold grudges against them in private- God tells us that forgiveness means US going to them and trying to make it right- if they will not have it, keep on trying regardless of how they treat us- Eating humble pie by truly forgiving others aint easy- but if we want God to hear our prayers, it’s a must- otherwise our prayers fall flat because God will not hear them-

But- on the other hand, how do we reconcile King David asking God to destroy his enemies?

ps 109: “Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children wander about and beg; and let them seek sustenance far from their ruined homes” (vv. 9-10).

O that Thou wouldst slay the wicked, O God; depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. For they speak against Thee wickedly, and Thine enemies take Thy name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate Thee, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against Thee? I hate them with the utmost hatred; they have become my enemies (Ps. 139:19-22).

“Do Thou add iniquity to their iniquity, and may they not come into Thy righteousness. May they be blotted out of the book of life, and may they not be recorded with the righteous” (Ps. 69:27-28).

David did love his enemies, and did them no ill, but he also prayed for their destruction as ‘an innocent man of God who was continually hounded by God’s enemies’ as the following verse notes:

O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is injustice in my hands, if I have rewarded evil to my friend, or have plundered him who without cause was my adversary, let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it; and let him trample my life down to the ground, and lay my glory in the dust (Ps. 7:3-5).

David loved his enemies, and forgave them their iniquities against him- So his prayer to God was as an ‘innocent man’- He did not regard iniquity in his heart towards them

Before he prayed this prayer for justice and destruction, He implored God to search him and see if there were any wicked ways in him first-

David isn’t looking for revenge, He’s looking for justice- God’s justice upon His enemies- and he’s praying to God, not as a perfectly sinless individual, but as a man who does not regard iniquity in his heart towards others-

21 But Thou, O GOD, the Lord, deal kindly with me for Thy name’s sake; Because Thy lovingkindness is good, deliver me; 22 For I am afflicted and needy, And my heart is wounded within me. 23 I am passing like a shadow when it lengthens; I am shaken off like the locust. 24 My knees are weak from fasting; And my flesh has grown lean, without fatness. 25 I also have become a reproach to them; When they see me, they wag their head.

26 Help me, O LORD my God; Save me according to Thy lovingkindness. 27 And let them know that this is Thy hand; Thou, LORD, hast done it. 28 Let them curse, but do Thou bless; When they arise, they shall be ashamed, But Thy servant shall be glad. 29 Let my accusers be clothed with dishonor, And let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe. (NASB)

So while we should forgive others, we can also pray something along the lines of God handing out judgement as He sees fit to HIS enemies, and to those who oppress us- our prayers I think should be “Save them, but if they will not be saved, then judge them and deal with them for your sake, and for mine. Your will be done- search me first though Lord, and see if there be any wicked way in me”

For more on this- read here: https://bible.org/seriespage/13-psalm-109-prayer-punishment-wicked

But- on the other hand, how do we reconcile King David asking God to destroy his enemies?

Possibly because...

Genesis 12:3 New King James Version (NKJV)

I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

And just maybe...

Joshua 9:8-11

⁸The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”

⁹After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. ¹⁰The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. ¹¹As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.

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