We’ve considered 3 points of emphasis in Luke 17:3: the seriousness of sin, the responsibility of helping a sinning brother recognize his guilt, and the importance of repentance. A fourth emphasis in this passage is that Christians must be ready to forgive.
Reminding ourselves of our own weakness helps keep us ready to forgive. We recently looked at the first part of Galatians 6:1 which encourages spiritually minded people to try to help sinning brothers recognize their sin. The concluding statement of that verse reads, “Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” Humility helps us approach these situations with the right attitude and heart.
Love for our brother also helps keep us ready to forgive. 1 John 4:20-5:3 instructs, “If anyone says ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.”
Sometimes when we are sinned against, we stop loving our brother and allow resentment to eat away at our joy. Then, when the Christian brother repents and tries to make the situation right, our pride refuses to forgive, choosing instead to wallow in bitterness and vindictiveness. This is wrong, and perhaps when some Christians promote forgiveness without repentance, they are mixing terms and actually intend to encourage simply an avoidance of bitterness. Bitterness will destroy the bitter person rather than the resented one, and it does not glorify God. Love for one another, however, helps us avoid bitterness and obey God’s instruction.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul encourages the church in Corinth to forgive an individual who has caused great pain. We know that the church had confronted and the individual was repentant because Paul writes, “For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him”(2:7-8). When the Christian recognizes his sin, remorse and grief can overwhelm. We should strive to forgive him.
If someone has sinned against us and genuinely repented, we should pray and work toward a forgiving heart. We may not be able to trust that person, and depending on the sin it’s possible we shouldn’t, but with God’s help we can forgive. If he doesn’t repent, we may need to distance ourselves from him. In fact, in many situations, that’s the biblical response. Sometimes Christians not only refuse to admit they’ve sinned but also continue to sin. Although we can’t change another person’s heart, focusing on the greatness of our God and what God has for us today rather than letting our mind be consumed by thoughts of the sin and sinner will help prevent his sin from affecting our heart.
—reflection 5 in a series