Forgiveness


"There is truly no more revolutionary action than to love those who have persecuted you and forgive them." -Jesus Freaks II, Revolutionaries

"But I tell you who hear me:Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who are cruel to you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back Do to others as you would have them to do to you. . . 

 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without excepting to get anything back. Then  your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High,because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
Luke 6:27-31, 35-37

These are tough words. Wiersbe writes in his New Testament commentary that "sometimes the salt stings and the light exposes sin. Sinners show their hatred by avoiding us or rejecting us (Luke 6:22), insulting us (Luke 6:28), physically abusing us (Luke 6:29), and suing us (Luke 6:30)." And while it cannot be done in our own strength, we are admonished to love, do good and pray for those who do not like us or give us a hard time. "Hatred only breeds more hatred". (WW)

But Wiersbe also points out that "we must not look at these admonitions as a series of rules to be obeyed. They describe an attitude of heart that expresses itself positively when others are negative, and generously when others are selfish, all to the glory of God. It is an inner disposition, not a legal duty. We must have wisdom to know when to turn the other cheek and when to claim our rights (John 18:22-23). Even Christian love must have discernment (Philippians 1:9-11)."

"We must treat others as we would want to be treated (Luke 6:31), which assumes we want the very best spiritually for ourselves; and we must imitate our Father in heaven and be merciful (Luke 6:36). The important thing is not that we are vindicated before our enemies but that we become more like God in our character (Luke 6:35). This is the greatest reward anyone can receive, far greater than riches, food, laughter, or popularity (Luke 6:24-26). Those things will one day vanish, but character will last for eternity. We must believe Matthew 6:33 and practice it in the power of the spirit."

He goes on to say that "Luke 6:37-38 reminds us that we reap what we sow and in the amount that we sow. If we judge others, we will ourselves be judged. If we forgive, we shall be forgiven, but if we condemn, we shall be condemned (see Matthew 18:21-35). He was not talking about eternal judgment but the way we are treated in this life. If we live to give, God will see to it that we receive, but if we live only to get, God will see to it that we lose. This principle applies not only to our giving of money, but also to the giving of ourselves in ministry to others."

This is challenging, but not impossible. By God's grace and strength, may "we live to give". 

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