Matthew 6:14-15

Main Thought: This statement of Christ to his disciples follows immediately after the Model Prayer, in which Jesus says for them to say “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt. 6:12). Forgiveness of others is difficult when we have been wronged by another. The tendency we have before salvation is that of desiring to get even, to see vengeance exacted upon those who have wronged us. But what Christ is speaking of here is not the heart or desire of the sinful man, but it is the heart and desire of a child of God, one who has been forgiven of his or her sins. The great forgiveness of our sins that we have experienced, Jesus is saying here, is that there is a willingness in our hearts to forgive others. It is not always easy, but think of the fact that we were forgiven of our sins eternally, and we should certainly be willing to forgive sins against us which are very temporary in nature. Our Lord demonstrated the example of this type of forgiveness on the Cross when he said in Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He suffered the greatest wrong ever done against anyone who has ever walked the earth, and yet he asked His Father to forgive them. Should we not do the same? Should we not manifest the forgiveness we have received by manifesting forgiveness toward others? A spirit of unforgiveness, and a refusal to forgive, indicates someone who has never experienced the forgiveness of God. Look at what Paul says in Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Perhaps even now you are struggling with forgiving some wrong done against you, even by a brother or sister in Christ. Our calling as a child of God is to forgive those who have sinned against us, and not to hold on to that unforgiveness. Forgive that trespass, and demonstrate to others the forgiveness that God has so greatly bestowed on you.