Real Hope: Your Kingdom ComeSample

The Dynamics of Forgiveness

Jesus’ statement about the dynamics of forgiveness comes at the conclusion of the Lord’s prayer. These clear but confronting words are also the first mention of forgiveness in Matthew’s Gospel. Yes, something noteworthy must be going on here.

Jesus’ guide about how to pray (6:9–13) contains a strong emphasis upon God, not ourselves. This focus upon seeking first God’s kingdom and will, in trust and reliance upon Him, swiftly flows into Jesus explaining how we should have a similar approach to forgiveness. We are getting the wrong end of the stick if we take Jesus as saying our forgiveness of someone will compel God to offer forgiveness to us. Scripture never expresses such an arrangement; for example, consider the exchange in Mark 2:1–12, Peter’s summary in Acts 2:38, or the cosmic outline of Ephesians 1.

Instead, as the Sermon on the Mount has revealed from various angles, those who are part of the kingdom of God will live in particular ways. One way is praying to God as Jesus tells us God wants us to pray to Him. Another will be offering forgiveness to others who have wronged us. We will do this because knowing how much God has forgiven us for our sins in Jesus Christ inspires us to offer forgiveness to others.

I get no hint that Jesus is saying this will be a cakewalk. He’s also not downplaying the severity of someone’s sin against us. Jesus is getting us to realize that a true grasp on God’s forgiving heart looks like our hearts inclined to forgiving others.

Written by BEN MCEACHEN

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