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“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide his garments.” — Luke 23:34
Lying upon the cross, Jesus Christ asked forgiveness for those crucifying Him.
Outside of Christ, the first recorded Christian martyr, Stephen, echoed His words: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60).
Similar proclamations were made by Reformers who were martyred during the Marian Persecutions of the English Reformation.
Forgiveness is perhaps the most difficult command not only to understand but also to practice. Mankind is fallen, with Scripture proclaiming that none are righteous outside of Christ (Rom. 3:10–11). Yet in order to walk with Jesus Christ, forgiveness is a weight that must be lifted and taken seriously.
It is built into the petition of the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Christ lived among His people. He experienced the sin and sorrow of a fallen world. That is why He so profoundly taught the necessity of forgiveness.
Forgiving does not mean forgetting. It means recognizing that all have sinned, and if we expect God to forgive us, our hearts must also be ready to forgive.
From Paul to Peter to Christ Himself, Scripture also teaches the need to distance ourselves from sin and from those who may lead us astray. Forgiveness can exist alongside wisdom, guarding ourselves from bad company while still extending mercy.
Paul reminds us: “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13).
Genuine biblical love produces forgiveness. It flows from grace and reflects the commitment to live for Christ.
Believers are called to be the light and salt of the earth. Emulating the life of Jesus and sharing His gospel is our mission. Forgiveness goes against everything in fallen human nature: selfishness, greed, and pride. Yet it remains one of the most powerful testimonies to Christ that a Christian can display.
An old saying declares, “The wise forgive but do not forget.” Though not exclusively Christian, it aligns with the wisdom of Scripture: we are called to forgive while exercising discernment and protecting our walk with Christ.
Forgiveness opens the heart to the peace and joy of Christ. It conquers the hate and bitterness of the flesh, pointing us and others back to Him.
To forgive is to walk in the shadow of the cross, where Christ’s love shatters sin and sets the believer free.
