Jesus spent a great deal of time talking about the importance of forgiving others. He made it clear that forgiveness is to be a characteristic of his followers. So let’s explore what it means to forgive others, the benefits of forgiving and how to forgive.

What It Means To Forgive.

“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

To forgive means to not seek revenge on the one who has hurt you. It means letting go of the anger we harbor inside us and allowing God to deal with him or her as he, in His perfect wisdom, sees fit.

It doesn’t mean excusing a wrong or denying that it ever happened. It means we don’t allow ourselves to be consumed with anger towards the one who has done something to us. Instead of cursing the people who has wrong us, we pray for them. Here are three verses that reflect the attitude of the forgiving heart:

“Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)

“Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it.” (1 Peter 3:9)

“Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honourable Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible. Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, ‘I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,’ says the Lord. Instead, do what the Scriptures say: ‘If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you’. Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.” (Romans 12:17-21)

Why Forgive.

“And don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behaviour” (Ephesians 4:26-27,31)

As the verses above tell us, anger gives Satan a foothold in our lives. Anger has a devastating effect on our relationship with God as well as with others. Over time we’ll take our anger out on those around us. It consumes us unless we deal with it.

Jesus passionately taught us to forgive others, to let go, to let him handle it. He wants us to be at peace and for that to happen anger must be replaced with forgiveness.

How To Forgive.

“Without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

“I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)

Tips To Help You Forgive.

Do not deny that you have been hurt. As we learned, forgiving is not denying.

Make a decision to forgive others (Luke 17:3-5)

Do not seek revenge or repay evil for evil. Let God handle it in His perfect way (1 Peter 3:9)

Ask Jesus to help you release the anger inside you (Ephesians 4:26-27,31)

Pray for a forgiving heart and read what the Bible says about the subject.

Pray for those who have hurt you (Matthew 5:44)

Romans 12:17-21 – Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. (Read More…)

Ephesians 4:32 – And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:31-32 – Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: (Read More…)

Matthew 5:44 – But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Mark 11:25 – And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

John 15:12 – This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Luke 6:27 – But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

Matthew 6:14-15 – For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: (Read More…)

Matthew 18:21-22 – Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? (Read More…)

Matthew 5:43-48 – Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. (Read More…)

Matthew 18:15 – Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Colossians 3:13 – Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.

Luke 23:34 – Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Colossians 3:12-14 – Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (Read More…)

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ephesians 4:26-27 – Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: (Read More…)

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.

Matthew 6:12 – And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Proverbs 16:32 – [He that is] slow to anger [is] better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

Ephesians 4:31 – Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 – Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (Read More…)

Proverbs 19:11 – The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and [it is] his glory to pass over a transgression.

Romans 1:1-32 – Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called [to be] an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Read More…)

Luke 17:3-4 – Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. (Read More…)

Luke 17:4 – And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Luke 17:3 – Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

Matthew 18:21-35 – Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? (Read More…)

Luke 6:31 – And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Ephesians 4:29 – Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Proverbs 3:6 – In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Colossians 3:19 – Husbands, love [your] wives, and be not bitter against them.

Matthew 6:14 – For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

James 4:5 – Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

1 Peter 3:7 – Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [them] according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Hebrews 13:4 – Marriage [is] honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

2 Timothy 3:16 – All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Ephesians 6:1 – Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Galatians 5:13 – For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Romans 14:19 – Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

John 13:34-35 – A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (Read More…)

Matthew 5:32 – But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

2 Timothy 3:17 – That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

John 10:34 – Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

Luke 11:4 – And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Thank You Jesus.

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