Understanding Forgiveness

I want to begin by asking you a question: Have you ever been deeply hurt by someone? Maybe a friend betrayed you, a loved one let you down, or someone spoke harsh words that still echo in your heart. The truth is, we have all experienced pain at the hands of others. And if we are honest, we have also been the ones who have hurt others.

In moments of pain, forgiveness seems impossible. Our natural instinct is to seek justice or hold onto the anger we feel. But as followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to live differently. We are called to forgive.

⁴⁷ "And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” (Luke 17:4 NKJV)

Forgiveness is not optional for a Christian—it is a command. It is a reflection of God's love and grace towards us. Today, we will explore what forgiveness truly means, examine biblical examples of forgiveness, and discover how we can walk in the freedom that forgiveness brings.

Biblical Examples of Forgiveness

Joseph Forgiving His Brothers.  Few stories in the Bible demonstrate forgiveness more powerfully than the story of Joseph. Imagine this: Joseph was betrayed by his own brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, imprisoned, and forgotten. If anyone had a reason to seek revenge, it was him.  But when the moment of reckoning came, and Joseph’s brothers stood before him in fear, he responded not with vengeance but with grace. "Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.’” (Genesis 50:19-20 NKJV)

Joseph understood that God was sovereign. He chose to see His situation through God’s perspective rather than through the lens of pain.  Like Joseph, we must recognize that God can bring good even from painful situations. We should trust Him and choose forgiveness over bitterness.

Jesus on the Cross!  If anyone had the right to withhold forgiveness, it was Jesus. He was entirely without sin, yet He was falsely accused, beaten, mocked, and crucified. And as He hung on the cross, suffering an unimaginable death, He could have called down legions of angels to destroy His enemies. Instead, He prayed. ³⁴ "Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.'" (Luke 23:34 NKJV)

If Jesus—our perfect Savior—could forgive those who crucified Him, how much more should we forgive those who wrong us?

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.  In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus tells a parable about a servant who was forgiven a massive debt by his master. But instead of extending that same mercy to someone who owed him far less, he imprisoned the man.  "Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'” (Matthew 18:22 NKJV)

Jesus made it clear: If we have been forgiven much by God, we must also extend that forgiveness to others. Holding onto unforgiveness only leads to bondage.

Why We Must Forgive: God Commands Us to Forgive.

Forgiveness is not a suggestion—it is a command.  "bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." (Colossians 3:13 NKJV)

Forgiveness Brings Freedom!

Unforgiveness does not harm the person who wronged us; it harms us. It binds us in bitterness and prevents us from living in the fullness of God’s peace. ³² "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32 NKJV)

Someone once said, "Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die." When we choose forgiveness, we break free from the chains of resentment.

Forgiveness is Necessary for Our Own Forgiveness. Jesus makes a sobering statement in Matthew 6:14-15: "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 NKJV)

If we refuse to forgive others, we hinder our own relationship with God. He calls us to extend the same grace that we have received from Him.

How to Walk in Forgiveness:

Acknowledge the Hurt but Choose to Forgive

Forgiveness does not mean pretending the offense never happened. It means choosing to release it into God's hands.

Pray for Those Who Hurt You.  Jesus gives us a radical command to not only forgive but to pray for those who have hurt us.  "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." (Matthew 5:44 NKJV)

Praying for those who hurt us softens our hearts and aligns us with God’s will.

Trust God with Justice

God is the ultimate judge. When we forgive, we acknowledge that He alone has the right to bring justice. "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 NKJV)

Forgiving does not mean allowing injustice to go unpunished—it means releasing the burden to God.

Living a Life of Forgiveness.  Forgiveness is not a one-time act; it is a lifestyle. Every day, we must choose to offer grace, just as we have received it.  "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV)

Who do you need to forgive today? Is there someone who has wronged you, someone whose actions still weigh on your heart? God's call is clear—let go and forgive.
- Take a moment to reflect on who you need to forgive.
- Pray for the strength to release any resentment.
- Walk in the freedom that only forgiveness can bring.

-Pastor Roy Edwards