Matthew 6:14-15: "Forgiveness"

(Colossians 3:13): “Bear with one another and forgive one another if any of you have a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord has forgave you.” As true believers, we know and understand the very important command of our Lord to ‘forgive’. How important is it? Forgiveness is the sole reason the Lord gave His life for us. For the ‘forgiveness’ of sins. And what does the Lord tell each of us about the results of forgiving, or the lack thereof? (Matthew 6:14-15): For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others sins, your Father will NOT forgive your sins.” But wait a minute! Are we not told that if we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and believe what our Father has said, that ALL our sins are forgiven? Does it seem that the Lord is contradicting Himself? (1 John 1:9): If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Then why does there seem to be a discrepancy? Actually, there isn’t! If we TRULY have given our lives ‘unconditionally’ to the Lord, then we have given Him full ‘unconditional’ authority over our lives with complete surrender to His Word and His commands. That is what giving Him ‘Lordship’ actually means. To surrender our will, ‘unconditionally’ to His…complete obedience to His Word.









If each of us is truly honest within ourselves, we have to acknowledge how difficult it is, if not impossible, to forgive someone who has truly sinned against us; hurt us; deceived us; used us; taken from us; lied to us. And it is completely against our human nature to forgive. Especially with the aid of the enemy and what our culture tells us to do. What is an acceptable, and expected response. This is just another ‘battle’ we will continually have to deal with in our walk with the Lord. Not only does our nature tell us not to forgive, but often to even seek revenge! What does our Lord tell us about this? First He tells us this in Colossians 3:13. Secondly, (Romans 12:19): Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” So now we understand what the Lord says about forgiveness…’forgiving’, and how extremely important it is. It is not a request of the Lord, but a direct command with immediate consequences, both good and bad!









Since it is so very difficult to forgive all things, let alone the most devastating attacks and grievances, how can we actually receive full forgiveness from the Lord; be fully obedient with a sincere heart? And THAT is the answer…the state of our hearts! You see, the Lord knows the deep things of our hearts. What we are truly seeking. (Deuteronomy 4:29): But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him, if you search after Him with ALL YOU HEART, and WITH ALL YOUR SOUL.”




Yes, obedience to the Lord is so very important. It shows just Who truly is the ‘Lord’ of our lives. This is where our hope lies; where our obedience lies. The condition of our hearts before the Lord. He knows exactly what we seek. He sees, that although we often fail, that our desire to be obedient to Him; pleasing to Him, is or hearts desires. And when we fall, we are grieved and convicted to our failures. If not, then how can we truly call Him ‘Lord’. This is where His unforgiveness lies and why. If we do not forgive, do not seek obedience to Him in this, and have no remorse or conviction in it, then the sad fact is that we are NOT truly His! The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts us if He is living in us. If not, then we will not be remorseful; convicted; seek forgiveness and repent from it. (John 16:8): “When He comes, He will convict the world of sin, and righteousness, and judgment…”.









The Lord forgives us in our failures to forgive because He knows what is our hearts desires…to forgive as He has commanded us to; to forgive as He has forgiven! But we never give up in pursuing ‘forgiveness of others’. Forgiveness begins with our hearts efforts to do as the Lord has told us, shown us. Sometime forgiveness is instantaneous. But mostly takes time which is accompanied with spiritual growth. Another aspect of this is forgiving ourselves when we fall. Because He has forgiven us as our hearts seek the things of God, and not the world. Do not let the enemy deceive you in this. Do not loose hope. Spiritual growth takes time. That is why it is called ‘growth’. It is a continually process of development…spiritual development. Stay the path even when you fall, because the lord will pick you up, dust you off, and set you back straight on the path He has set before you. We must understand that it is not human nature to be able to forgive, let alone to repent of it. We cannot do this ourselves. How do we know this? Because the Lord has told us so: (John 15:5): “…for without me, you can do NOTHING.” The lord also encourages us in our efforts: (Philippians 4:13): “I can do ANYTHING through Christ which strengthens me.”









Forgiveness is what our salvation is based on. This is exactly how important it is for us to seek to forgive others…to forgive as we are forgiven. God bless you all, and never give up on yourselves. When we forgive, we are a reflection of the deep love of God for each of us. And always remember to forgive ourselves as He has forgiven us.














As always, your comments are always welcomed and appreciated.




Psalm 34:3 "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." (KJV)