For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14-15
Suffering and pain are a part of life, and nothing is more painful when we have been wronged by an individual. Offenses are committed every day in our world, and we are witnessing more violence’s in our neighborhood and on TV. Some violence today is even becoming acceptable. Where does one draw the boundary lines? Humans are constantly trying to substantiate their own position that they are justified in their actions, yet do not see the spot in their own eye. In this text the meaning for trespass is to fall beside or near something. In other words, the individual has fallen themselves because they are holding onto a grudge. They are unwilling to seek forgiveness as they expect some kind of payment. Some even stroke the grudge for the life of the offending person because it feels good. The problem is that the grudge turns into bitterness. Bitterness stops you from going forward and it clouds your own judgement. You might say that if you cannot go forward in life, then you have fallen. Thus, the grudge has caused you to fall beside it.
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Matthew 7:1-2
The grudge is the judgement you made, and it is being measured back to you. If you are a Christian this is very unsettling for, how do you expect to have mercy from the heavenly Father when you have drawn the line of boundary yourself. The apostle Paul said, “dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” [ Romans 12:19]. Having unforgiveness affects your prayers to God because Jesus said that when you pray you are to forgive anything you have against another person [see Mark 11:24]. For a Christian to have unforgiveness negates what Christ did on the cross. Whenever there was an offense in the Old Testament against an individual, restitution was to be made. Did you know about the trespass offering in Leviticus chapter 6? The trespass offerings consider the injury of an individual. Any fault found from having a false witness to stealing and cheating another is listed. The individual at fault was to make restitution. The priest made the atonement for the individual before the Lord in order that forgiveness was granted.
Let’s not forget about Job’s grievances for unfair treatment. Job had to realize his own fault about God’s sovereignty in that He is all knowing and can do anything even to the point of revealing His knowledge to refine the human character. God’s people trust and serve him because of who He is not just because of the benefits they may receive. His mercy is everlasting, and He knows our human faults. Job learned that he should have prayed for his friends despite the rebuke he personally received from his friends who had judged him. Jobs friends had to bring an offering for their lack of good sense when assuming that guilt was at the cause of Job’s distress. We can not always assume we know why God is doing something, but we can receive knowledge from His word to ascertain and receive revelations. Job’s experience may be the warning about the beam that we may carry in our own eye as it is stated in Matthew chapter seven.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:3-5
We can see that Job spoke the truth to God whereas his friends did not, but God provided atonement and gave back to Job twice what he originally had [see Job chapter 42]. Make sure that the beam is cleansed from your own eye before giving out any kind of judgement, so you don’t become a hypocrite. Failure to heed one’s own behavior also negates God’s mercy as well as God’s atonement. Do not allow the beam to become the focus. Take your unforgiveness to the Lord and ask him to change your heart. Let him know how you hurt and allow His love and forgiveness to flow to your heart. God’s atonement through Jesus Christ is for you. He alone knows the pain and hurt you are feeling? Christ took that pain on the cross and shed his blood for you. When you have fully repented, you will be free from that burden and will be able to forgive. For many Christians, this is a warning, and a reminder. Pray for those who have offended you and forgive them, so you don’t fall beside it or near it and stunt your growth in your Christian walk.
Unforgiveness is sin in God’s eye. Without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin. Jesus said, this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins [see Matthew 26:28]. The believer loses fellowship with God when unforgiveness is not dealt with through the blood of Christ. Christ is our high priest and atonement. All human forgiveness rest upon God’s divine result for forgiveness through the blood of Christ. This carries forward the trespass offerings in the Old Testament that Jesus is the final sacrifice. Unforgiveness without repentance nullifies your own forgiveness with God. You cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven without forgiveness. A believer is to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving just as God, for Christ’s sake, hath forgiven you. This is God’s condition. Think about it, only forgiven people who repent of sins and accept God’s sacrifice will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. God’s people will follow Christ in forgiving one another and not be tormented by holding a grudge. We are living under God’s grace and mercy until His coming, so repent while there is still time to do so. Do not allow unforgiveness to hold you back from entering Heaven.
