When Forgiveness is Hard!

Scripture makes it pretty clear that we are to forgive those who do us wrong, even those who blatantly and seemly intentionally continue to hurt us.

Here's one from the New American Standard Bible ...

Matthew 18:21-35 NASB

21 Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?” 

22 Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times.

23 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. 

24 And when he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 

25 But since he did not have the means to repay, his master commanded that he be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment be made. 

26 So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ 

27 And the master of that slave felt compassion, and he released him and forgave him the debt. 

28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe!’ 

29 So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ 

30 But he was unwilling, and went and threw him in prison until he would pay back what was owed. 

31 So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their master all that had happened. 

32 Then summoning him, his master *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 

33 Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ 

34 And his master, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he would repay all that was owed him. 

35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”  

The following are from the King James Version (KJV)

Matthew 6:14 … For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Ecclesiastes 28:2 … Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee, so shall thy sins also be forgiven when thou prayest.

Mark 11:25 … And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Mark 11:26 … But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 6:15 … But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

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There's no getting around what God teaches on the subject of forgiveness but how do we make it happen.  Forgiveness is not a light switch that you can turn on and off at will especially when the hurt is deep and or ongoing.  And did you notice Matthew 18:35 ... 'if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”   "From your heart" ... lip service won't work!  So how do we forgive someone 'from the heart' when forgiveness is the last thing we feel?

I hope you'll join me as we explore this topic and share insights on when forgiveness is hard.

 patsy @ From This Heart Of Mine

(c) 2023 by Patsy Norwood.  All Rights Reserved.