Forgiveness is not an easy feat for most of us. Our sinful flesh revels more in revenge and holding a grudge. However, especially for Christians, we are still asked to prioritize forgiveness, regardless of the offense committed against us. In this article, we will examine Matthew 18:21-35 and the story of Joseph and his brothers to gain a deeper understanding of forgiveness.
What is True Forgiveness?
The Bible Hub defines forgiveness as the act of pardoning, releasing someone from the penalty of sin, or canceling a debt. It involves making a conscious decision to let go of resentment or vengeance toward someone who has wronged you (Matthew 18:27). From this definition, we come to terms with the challenge that Peter faced in Matthew 18:21-22; he had forgiven his brother severally, and he wondered just how much more forgiving he could do. The response Christ gave him was apt because it pointed to the heart posture of forgiveness.
In the parable of the unforgiving servant, Christ draws a comparison to the Kingdom of heaven with a parable about a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. The king chooses to forgive the debt of one servant after he begs for more time. Interestingly, the same forgiven servant goes on to choke a fellow servant, asking to be paid a debt. He ignores the pleas of his mate, and the news of his inhumane conduct reaches the king. The parable ends with the king throwing the unforgiving servant in jail for not having forgiven his fellow servant as he had been forgiven. At the end of the parable, Christ sounds the warning: “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart” (Matthew 18:35).
From this, we can gather that true forgiveness stems from a heart that appreciates the much it has been forgiven. We cannot forgive truly unless we understand how much Christ has forgiven us.
Why Forgive
After Peter asks Christ the question of how many times he should forgive his brother, Jesus says to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” This was Jesus asking Peter to forgive to infinity because Biblically, seven represents perfection, completion, and wholeness. As we read the parable, it becomes increasingly apparent why Jesus asked Peter to forgive in this manner. When the king heard that the servant he had just shown mercy to had failed to show the same to another, he was infuriated, as his words in Matthew 18:32-33 show. He felt gravely disappointed that his servant had not learned from him.
The simple reason why we should forgive is that we have been forgiven. This reason alone should be enough to lighten our hearts and prompt us to forgive without question.
How to Forgive
Genuine forgiveness, especially when the offense is dire, can be a very daunting task. From Peter’s question, we can tell he understood this; it’s even worse when you have to do it over and over again. How do we go about it then? We can only forgive with the help of the One who forgave us first. In Matthew 11:28-29, Christ beckons us to “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Christ here is assuring us that if we go to him, even though our burdens and labors are heavy, he will give rest to our souls, only that we must take up his yoke and learn from him. Once we have done this, in Matthew 11:30, Jesus reassures us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.
If we entrust ourselves to the Lord, then forgiveness, even where it would have proven impossible, will become easier and lighter for our souls to bear.
Forgiveness and the Sovereignty of God
Another aspect that can help us forgive easily is the concept of God’s sovereignty and its role in our lives. The story of Joseph and his brothers best illustrates this.
Joseph’s brothers, out of sheer jealousy, decide to sell him to the Midianites, who later resell him to Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh of Egypt (Genesis 37:12-36). While there, despite enduring more affliction, Joseph clings to his faith in God. However, in a dramatic twist of events, Joseph rises to power, becoming the second-in-command to the Pharaoh of Egypt. (Read the story from Genesis 39-45 to get the whole context.) In fulfillment of Joseph’s interpretations of the Pharaoh’s troubling dreams, the earth experiences famine after seven years of abundance. Joseph excelled in maximizing the years of abundance, resulting in Egypt having a surplus of food while the rest of the world remained famished.
Among those who knew where to find food at the time were Joseph’s estranged family in Canaan (Genesis 37:1). Jacob, therefore, sent Joseph’s brothers to Egypt to get some food, and this is when things became interesting. Instead of exerting sweet revenge upon his brothers, Joseph chooses to show compassion and forgiveness. Read his words from Genesis 45:4-8: “So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt” [emphasis added]. Joseph knew it was ultimately God who was in control of how the events turned out. Even in the way his brothers sinned against him, he knew, without a doubt, that it was all within the sovereign will of God. With this knowledge, he had no reason to hold it against them. He forgave them wholly.
Even if we may not understand at the time how God’s sovereignty is at work in any particular situation, may we, like Joseph, trust in the One who holds our days in his hand. Ultimately, we can be assured that it will all work out for his glory and the benefit of his people.
Forgiveness in Light of Eternity
Considering how Jesus continually drew comparisons between the Kingdom of God and the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:23, 35), it’s undeniable that the subject of forgiveness is weighty. Actually, forgiveness is at the very center of the whole salvific story. Christ died on the cross so that we would be pardoned from our debt of sin, whose reward was death. We, hence, wouldn’t be forgiven if Christ hadn’t given himself for our sake; the second death would still await. Isn’t it a joy to know that we are forgiven freely, that we didn’t have to earn our salvation? Because of God’s act of love and mercy (sending his Son to earth), there is now an open door to eternal life for those who place their trust in Christ and his finished work on the cross (John 3:16).
Difficult as the call to forgive may be, we can be thankful that God has not left us to our own devices. In more complicated situations, the Scriptures are replete with wisdom on how to approach such matters (Matthew 15:18-20). God sent his Son not only to earn our forgiveness but also to be an example for us. Christ has cleared our path, making forgiveness, even for the vilest of sins, a possibility. As we consider the high cost of our forgiveness through Christ, let us trust God for grace to forgive truly, just like Joseph did. Even when it is hard, may we entrust our hearts to the sovereign One who knows how it all ends.