Reluctant to Forgive
I thought the following was very helpful to reflect upon in light of Jesus’ words: “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions” (Matthew 6:14–15).
Dustin Benge (Managing Director of Unashamed Truth; Associate Professor of Spirituality and Historical Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) shared these insightful truths about why believers sometimes hesitate to forgive others.
Pride: They feel wronged and struggle to let go of self-righteousness (Prov 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.”)
Anger: Resentment fuels a desire for vengeance rather than grace (Eph 4:26, “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.”)
Justice: They want the offender to suffer consequences first (Rom 12:19: “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”)
Misunderstanding Grace: They haven’t fully grasped God’s forgiveness toward them (Col 3:13, “Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”)
Do you hesitate? As always Christ is our best example and motivation: “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).
Pastor Jeff