The Special Relationship Between
Forgiveness and Healing
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14–15, ESV)
I find it very interesting that the above verse of the Bible comes IMMEDIATELY after Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer. According to Matthew, the second Jesus finished praying the Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6:14-15 is what came out of His mouth! In context, that would make this verse of the Bible almost as important as the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is recited every week or few weeks in almost every Christian church. However, this verse of scripture above is barely mentioned on average once every three years depending on which liturgical suggestions are followed by your denomination. Does this verse above really deserve to be relegated to a mention every three years or so?
Matthew 6:14-15, today’s meditational scriptures, not only come immediately following the Lord’s Prayer, but it is also a part of the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount is found in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. It is the largest compendium of Jesus’ main teachings. So, again, I ask you: should today’s scripture, placed in a position of such importance in our Bible, be relegated to a mention every few years?
Because I believe this scripture for today deserves a high degree of importance, let’s delve more deeply into the meaning of Matthew 6:14-15.
While offering up important wisdom and insight into true faith in God, Jesus said, “if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15). Both halves of this scripture begin with an IF statement. The first is “IF you forgive…”. The second is “IF you do not forgive”. Jesus made perfectly clear that people will fall into one of these two categories. Either they forgive others, or they do not. The forgiveness, or lack thereof, will determine God’s response.
Look at it another way. When you are wronged, you only really have two options. You can forgive, OR you can fail to forgive. God the Father will observe your response to sin to determine HIS ultimate response. IF you forgive others, “your heavenly Father will also forgive you”. IF you do not forgive others, “neither will your heavenly Father forgive you.” Thus, not only is forgiveness toward others determined by YOU. God’s forgiveness is also dependent upon YOU.
To be honest, when evil is perpetrated against you, it’s difficult to forgive the one who wronged you. You want the person to pay for that evil. You want him or her to suffer for all the suffering they caused you. This is an “eye for an eye mentality”. There is no mercy in this belief. There is no grace in this type of response. It seems fair to feel this way. Others may tell you that you deserve to be offended, hurt, or get revenge. However, Jesus saw things very differently. He wasn’t an advocate for “an eye for an eye” justice or mentality. Jesus was critical of sin and injustice, but Jesus was also a total believer in grace and mercy. Even before HE died, Jesus already forgave those who crucified Him. Jesus did this while suffering on the cross when HE said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” (Luke 23:34). If Jesus can forgive those who were torturing HIM to death, can you not forgive the person who did you wrong?
I’m not saying forgiveness is easy. I’m not saying it won’t hurt. I’m not saying it won’t take every ounce of your courage and strength and grace. What I am saying is that Jesus thought forgiveness crucial for your own spiritual walk. IF you can’t forgive another, your heavenly Father won’t forgive you. Thus, if you do not forgive another, not only is that person’s sin recorded by God the Father, but your own lack of forgiveness is also recorded as your own sin in the heavenly Father’s eyes.
Now, before you become obsessed with it not being “fair” if others are “let off the hook” when you forgive them, consider that your forgiveness is the beginning of your healing. If you do not forgive others who wrong you, healing from God will not come. It will be a sore that festers in your heart, mind, and soul. Unforgiveness has a way of eating away at your own peace. If you can’t forgive, you’ll never be able to “let it go”. Resentment and feelings of vengeance will fester on and on long after. Your own healing will be stifled. Whether the other person ever “pays” for their evil is not an issue for you. That is an issue for God. Your being able to forgive and “let it go” is another issue… between you and God.
Charles Stanley explained this well in his meditation on Matthew 6:14-15. He wrote:
“With every injury or mistreatment, you ultimately have two options: forgive the offender completely or refuse to let go, believing they owe you something to make up for what they’ve done. In the short term, keeping them accountable in your mind may seem to be the easier and more gratifying choice, especially when the individual is still in your life.
However, you probably know by now that when you harbor bitterness toward others, it will affect you profoundly. And time doesn’t heal those injuries. On the contrary, left unhealed, your old wounds become infected and turn into a more serious emotional, spiritual, relational, and even physical illness. The poison of an unforgiving spirit can damage the entire person.
The only cure when resentment has taken root is forgiveness. Nothing else does the job of genuine healing. Of course, you may be afraid to pardon what’s been done to you. After all, if you truly forgive those who hurt you, will anyone hold them accountable? But remember, you’re not injuring them with your bitterness; you’re only hurting yourself. So ask God to help you let go and forgive. And trust that the Lord will not only heal you as you obey Him but will also make all things right.” (p. 263, Trusting God With Today).
You will be wronged. Others will sin against you. You can’t stop it. You can’t fix them. You can’t protect yourself from all the pain others may cause or the evil that will be thrust upon you. All you can do in response to sin is work through the evil and then forgive the trespasser. You need to come to the point when you can let that sin go to God your Father in heaven. That sin is God’s to judge. That evil is God’s to eradicate. Your job in all of this is to work toward forgiveness. It is your only saving grace in Christ Jesus!
Are there any sinful acts committed against you that continue to eat away in heart or soul or mind? Work today on letting forgiveness have its way with you. Let God’s grace cleanse you. Only then will real healing begin.