and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. [Matthew 6.12]
I don't even know where to start in responding to this scripture today. In fact, the theme of this statement is found throughout the Gospels. It takes a little different form, but it is the same principle.
Just recently, the OYCB reading included Luke 4.17-26 (the story of Jesus healing a paralyzed man):
One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!” [Luke 5.17-26]
Here we see Jesus forgiving a man and being accused of blasphemy. Why? Because forgiveness is something only God could do. To forgive is to be like God! To forgive is to give...
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” [Luke 6.37-38]
What else is forgiveness? Not judging. The more we forgive and the less we judge means we will be forgiven more and judged less.
Hang on, there's more...
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. [Matthew 7.12]
Jesus taught the Golden Rule but, more importantly stated that the Golden Rule is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets! What? Yeah, and here is a good time to remember that Jesus also said:
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! [John 5.39]
So, if the essence of the scriptures (the law and the prophets) is doing what we wish to be done to us (forgiving, not judging), and Jesus is Whom these very scriptures point to, then Jesus is the only way to fulfill God's will in the earth!
Again, why did they accuse Jesus of blasphemy? Because He extended forgiveness. Because He DID the works of God in a single action.
Oh, this just gets better and better...
Who are we supposed to look and act like on earth? JESUS!
And how do you suppose we will most look and act like Jesus? BY FORGIVING!
Let me just point something out here about forgiveness. Forgiveness goes much, much further than just forgiving the person who has directly offended us. The paralyzed guy in Luke 4.17-26 had done nothing to Jesus, and yet, Jesus forgave him. How could He do that? Because Jesus was showing us that sin is universal. Adam and Eve not only sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, but they also sinned against all humanity. That's just how ugly and all-encompassing sin is - Adam and Eve sinned and the curse fell on everyone to follow.
Forgiveness goes much further for the believer than just forgiving the neighbor whose dog poops in their yard! Forgiveness is an attitude, God's attitude, toward mankind. It is the only way to truly desire to look and act like God without committing the same sin Satan committed. Satan (evidently in his pre-fall state as an angel assigned to punishment) wanted the glory but instead of being like God to get it (give and it shall be given), he tricked Adam and Eve into sin so he might exercise his death and destruction at his will, not God's will. It might be seen and argued that Satan wanted to "be who he was" instead of being like God. He could have said, "I just want to be me..."
Okay, this post has gotten long. But here is the point: do we want to be like God (as seen in Jesus), or are we more determined to just be ourselves? The whole ideology of the self-help mindset is the antithesis to the life and teachings of Jesus.
Father, I am a bit overwhelmed by all that You have spoken to my heart today. Please help me to absorb these thoughts into my being and act upon Your Spirit in me to do Your will in the earth today - to forgive and not judge.
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