Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." -Luke 23:34
There are seven recorded statements of Jesus from the cross, and they can be found within the gospel accounts. The first of these statements is widely known; Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." This statement was foretold long ago; In Psalm 109:3-5 David said “They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, And fought against me without a cause. 4 In return for my love they are my accusers, But I give myself to prayer.” Through it we see that the first people Jesus reached out to on the cross are the very ones that put Him there. If anyone had a right to complain of injustice it was Him. Yet He refused to complain, instead He loved and prayed for His enemies, just as He had taught His own disciples to do. The world says "Don't get mad get even", to them it is weak to pray for someone who doesn't "deserve" it. But in reality it takes much strength to pray for your enemies. Because you must put your hurt feelings aside, and surrender your enemies fate to God.
While Jesus wasn't excusing them of their ignorance He was refusing to do the opposite of what He came to do--forgive sins! We must learn from Christ and forgive vertically even if there is no sign of horizontal repentance. We must forgive others before God always (Mat 6:12). Like Jesus we must have an attitude of forgiveness before God towards others even if those that have sinned against us are not yet sorry. That does not mean however that we go walking around telling people "I forgive you" when they aren't sorry for what they did. No that would be counterproductive. Luke said "If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him." (Lk 17:3) If someone doesn't want your pardon you cannot force it on them. A pardon is an act of grace and a releasing from responsibility of damages caused. Our responsibility as Christians is to not harbor any unforgiveness towards others, or else it will enslave us to them. Stephen the first martyr mimicked Jesus before being stoned to death, He said "Lord do not hold this sin against them". Stephen refused to die with a grudge--he refused to enter heaven angry. He forgave vertically even if their was not horizontal repentance!
While Jesus wasn't excusing them of their ignorance He was refusing to do the opposite of what He came to do--forgive sins! We must learn from Christ and forgive vertically even if there is no sign of horizontal repentance. We must forgive others before God always (Mat 6:12). Like Jesus we must have an attitude of forgiveness before God towards others even if those that have sinned against us are not yet sorry. That does not mean however that we go walking around telling people "I forgive you" when they aren't sorry for what they did. No that would be counterproductive. Luke said "If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him." (Lk 17:3) If someone doesn't want your pardon you cannot force it on them. A pardon is an act of grace and a releasing from responsibility of damages caused. Our responsibility as Christians is to not harbor any unforgiveness towards others, or else it will enslave us to them. Stephen the first martyr mimicked Jesus before being stoned to death, He said "Lord do not hold this sin against them". Stephen refused to die with a grudge--he refused to enter heaven angry. He forgave vertically even if their was not horizontal repentance!
- WHAT EFFECT HAS FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION TAKEN IN YOUR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY? ARE YOU EXERCISING FORGIVENESS REGULARLY OR ARE YOU DISMISSING IT AS "NO HARM DONE"?
- "forgiveness is a beautiful thing until you have someone to forgive" -C.S. Lewis