Freedom Through Forgiving Others

Read Matthew 5:38-48.

I know that this passage can seem to be more about loving others, but it speaks volumes about forgiveness. You see, forgiving others and loving others goes hand-in-hand.

It’s hard to forgive people who have hurt you, disappointed you, brought evil upon you, your family, your church, or even your homeland – but there’s a reason that Jesus calls us to do it. Ultimately, it’s more about us than it is about them. Our unwillingness to forgive (and the bitterness it causes in us) is a disease that will totally destroy our lives.

Jesus not only teaches us to forgive, but He empowers us to forgive – even those who have hurt us deeply – and the reason might be shocking: Forgiveness and love for even our enemies brings true and lasting freedom into our lives.

What principles come out of this passage that we need to learn and hold on to? And what change will they bring to our lives?

Retaliation

You’ve heard it said: “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”

The OT law was intended to limit revenge so that retaliation would fit the crime – Jesus said that those who follow Him must go even further. He taught us to not seek after revenge, and to forgive rather than to seek retaliation.

But this goes directly against all of our natural impulses! “Hurt me, I’ll hurt you!”

Why does Jesus teach this? Because we are to be people who seek after the good of even those who wrong us. You see, Jesus doesn’t call us to be better than everyone else (“the world”) – He calls us to be totally different. By loving and forgiving, we not only free ourselves, but we teach the rest of the world what it means to live as part of God’s kingdom.

Generosity

“Let him have your cloak also;” “Go with him two.”

At this time, Roman soldiers could legally force Jews to help them carry things for a set distance. Jesus told His followers to not let their oppressors destroy their Christian love – which should go even beyond what the law demanded.

Our generosity shouldn’t be based on the attitude or reaction of others, but it should reflect to them the love and grace that God so generously gives to us.

Jesus teaches us to not put material gain above human need. Why? Because material things can steal your heart away from God – and material things end up being the biggest traps for us in holding bitterness toward other people. But material things are not worth hurting someone else!

Hate

“…and hate your enemy.”

Some teachers of the law argued that the command to love our neighbor implied permission to hate our enemies. But Jesus teaches that we should love like God loves. That it shouldn’t be limited to those who love us, but should include even those who hate us and seek evil for us.

Now that’s a different kind of life! And we must remember that love doesn’t just involve how we feel about people, but it goes beyond feelings! Love includes actions that are in the best interest of others.

God

“He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good.”

God seeks after the good of all people – and the ultimate good comes in knowing Him. When we seek after the good of all people (even those who hurt us) by loving and forgiving, it is a witness to them of who He is.

All people, including us, will have no excuses for any evil that we’ve done, and for the unforgiveness in our hearts. See, we must begin taking on the character of God – and living as His people in the world around us. But how do we do this? By love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace.

Life

“For if you…” “Therefore you shall be perfect.”

The last thing we must remember is that this must be a life-characteristic. Not something we do once, but someone that we become as we go through life. In saying that, we realize that it isn’t someone we become in one day – it takes time, and the experiences of life are what God uses to mold us into that type of person.

You should be perfect – He says… this means “complete” or “mature” – we are to go on to maturity, and we are to live as mature Christians.

What unforgiveness does, is that it keeps us from being mature – it keeps us from taking on the character of Christ, and living as a witness to the world around us. (Witness – root word is same as for “martyr”)

But when we forgive, when we love even those who desire evil for us – when we can have someone spit in our face and still love them through the anger that wants to rise up in our bodies – then we know that we are becoming like Him (the One who prayed “Father forgive them”).

Last Thoughts

That’s where I want to be – I want to be more and more like Him – even when that means giving up my anger, my unforgiveness, my bitterness toward those who have wronged me.

This isn’t an easy thing. It takes time, determination, and learning to lean on and rely on Jesus every step of the way. But the only way you will experience true freedom, and true maturity, and begin living the life that He has for you is if you learn to let it all go.

Will you let it go?