A Christian understanding of forgiveness
Without some religious ethical teaching of forgiveness human beings often find it difficult to forgive at all. Retribution, revenge and overkill are more likely to be the gut reactions. Do me wrong and I will not only get even, I will pay you back one hundred fold and your children’s children too. The Hebrew teaching of “an eye for an eye” was a limiting factor. It’s not really forgiveness, but it does check the bloodletting. Jesus teaching is therefore a radical suggestion. It was radical 2000 years ago and it still is, even for some Christians.
The most compelling example of Jesus’ view of forgiveness comes from the story in the Gospel of John, chapter 8, of the woman caught in adultery. The punishment for this offence was death by stoning. The Pharisees’ bring her to him because they want to catch him disagreeing with the law. Jesus turns the tables on them by suggesting that “he who is without sin” might “cast the first stone.” Who among us can honestly say they have no unpunished trespasses against either God or neighbor.
Jesus has a way of getting us to focus more on our selves than others. In another place Jesus says,” if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:24 For years, I read this backwards. I thought it said “if you remember you have something against your brother.” But no, Jesus meant, think about yourself and your own wrong more than your neighbor.
Another startling teaching of Jesus concerns the repeat offender. Forget, “three strikes and you’re out.” When Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive, he replies, “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:22. In other words, if you are keeping score, you missed the point.
An even more familiar yet overlooked teaching is in the Lord’s prayer. It says “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who jave gtrespassed against us.”
The most impressive example from Jesus comes from the cross. Just before he dies he says, “Father forgiver them for they know not what they do.”
The Christian view of forgiveness continues with the writings of St. Paul in the Epistles.
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d]says the Lord. 20On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Most Christians miss the point of this teaching. We like the idea of hot burning coals. “I’ll punish you with my forgiveness,” we think. However, in New Testament times it was customary to give an offender as task, a community service, to help him be restored in relationships with his neighbors. One of these jobs was to rise early in the morning; go house to house carrying hot coals in a broken shard of a clay pot on your head, so that everyone was sure to have a fire to make breakfast.
II Corithians 5:21 says “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.” It continues, “ He has given us the message of reconciliation.” Reconciliation rather than revenge is the goal of the Christian. Forgiveness is central to this mission. It is possible to follow Jesus’ example, with his help and because we know he has forgiven us.
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