Forgiveness

One of the major identifiers of true worship is how they teach and live concerning forgiveness. One of the key central themes in the New Testament (New Covenant) is forgiveness. "Therefore be it known to you, men, brothers, that through this One the forgiveness of sins is announced to you." Acts 13:38 And... "in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace" Ephesians 1:7 A poignant thought and admonition comes clearly across in Mark concerning forgiveness.

"And whenever you* stand praying, be forgiving, if you* are holding anything against anyone, so that also your* Father, the [One] in the heavens, shall forgive you* of your* transgressions.
"But if you* do not forgive, neither will your* Father, the [One] in the heavens, forgive your* transgressions." [Mark 11:25-26-ALT]

Forgiveness for some does not come easy. Many individuals are very obstinate where forgiveness is concerned, and not surprisingly either, as this is the true character of Satan and his demon horde. Forgiveness is a theme throughout the Holy Word. Many times the children of Israel provoked Almighty Yahweh to anger but as the following describes, He forgave them.

"When he slew them, then they inquired after him; And they returned and sought Elohim earnestly.
And they remembered that Yahweh was their rock, And the Most High Elohim their redeemer.
But they flattered him with their mouth, And lied unto him with their tongue.
For their heart was not right with him, Neither were they faithful in his covenant.
But he, being merciful, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: Yes, many a time turned he his anger away, And did not stir up all his wrath." [Psalm 78:34-38 ASV]

Forgave is understood from BDB as:

H3722
כּפר
kâphar
BDB Definition:
1) to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation, cover over with pitch
1a) (Qal) to coat or cover with pitch
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to cover over, pacify, propitiate
1b2) to cover over, atone for sin, make atonement for
1b3) to cover over, atone for sin and persons by legal rites
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be covered over
1c2) to make atonement for
1d) (Hithpael) to be covered
Part of Speech: verb

And Strongs Exhaustive Concordance:

H3722
כּפר
kâphar
kaw-far'
A primitive root; to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel: - appease, make (an) atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, to pitch, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile (-liation).

In forgiveness there is atonement, and in atonement redemption. One of the problems that can be seen is this; if Almighty Yahweh can forgive, why can't humans forgive? Invariably the human race is caught up in retaliatory actions. When something occurs that may damage or slight an individual, the vengeance or get even modus operandi, sets deeply within the unforgiving person. All they want is to damage the individual that conceivably caused them harm, if that is actually the case. What does Yahshua the Messiah have to say about forgiveness?

"For this reason the kingdom of the heavens was compared to a person, a king, who wanted to settle accounts with his [servants].
"So when he began to be settling the accounts, one debtor was brought near to him [owing] ten thousand talents [i.e. about 950,000 pounds or 420,000 kilograms of gold or silver].
"But he not having [anything] to repay, his master commanded him to be sold, and his wife and the children, and all, whatever he was having, and to be repaid.
"So the [servant], having fallen down, began prostrating himself in reverence before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will repay you all.'
"Then the master of that [servant], having been moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the debt.
"But that [servant] having gone out, found one of his fellow-[servants] who was owing to him a hundred denarii [i.e., 100 days' wages], and having seized him, he began choking [him], saying, 'Repay to me if you owe anything!'
"His fellow-[servant] then, having fallen down at his feet, began pleading with him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay all to you.'
"But he was not willing, _but_ having gone away, he threw him into prison until he should repay the [amount] being owed.
"But his fellow-[servants], having seen the [things] having been done, were extremely grieved; and having come, they reported to their own master all the [things] having been done.
"Then having summoned him, his master says to him, 'Evil [Servant]! All that debt I forgave you, since you pleaded with Me.
"'It was necessary [for] you also to be merciful to your fellow-[servant], just as _I_ also was merciful to you, was it not?'
"And having been enraged, his master handed Him over to the torturers [or, jailers], until he should repay all being owed to him.
"In this manner also My heavenly Father will do to you*, unless you* forgive each [one] his brother [or sister] their transgressions from your* hearts." [Matthew 18:23-35 LITV]

Several things stand out in this parable, one of the first thoughts is; there is a time of reckoning and giving accounts, a time to balance the scales, a time to plead your cause so-to-speak. Accountability is required from Genesis to Revelation, something must be done for the sins of the human race, someone had to pay a very high price for the sins of the people. In this parable, the servant was called into account to pay what he owed. Not having sufficient to pay with, he was ordered to be sold along with his wife and children to pay the debt he owed. The next point is one that is seen quite frequently in law enforcement arrests and subsequent adjudication, the perpetrator pleading for mercy after they are caught and placed in jail and then on trial. This is when their whole persona changes, then the person (s) in jeopardy become quite subservient, willing to do anything to get out of the mess they are in. Now what happens next is a key focal point of this parable...the master of that servant was moved with compassion released him, and forgave his debt! What follows is a travesty to the compassion, mercy, and forgiveness theme of this passage that was shown to the servant by the Master!

After receiving forgiveness and cancellation of his debt the servant does not respond in kind. The servant directly goes to someone owing him a paltry 100 denarii, seizes him, threatens him, chokes him, and has him thrown in jail! And this is exactly the estate of unconverted people, repaying kindness with evil! Totally unforgiving and vindictive are those who at the hand of the Master received forgiveness for their debts and transgressions. Should anyone reward evil for good? Should someone like this servant reciprocate hatred for a loving act of kindness shown to him? The Master here delivered a benign act to this servant, a superior to an inferior. What should have been done next? The next action of that forgiven servant would be to go, and do likewise! Notwithstanding that servant was obstinate and insubordinate to the instruction and lesson he was given. What will become of someone who responds in this manner?

"Should evil be repaid for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before You to do good for them, and to turn away Your wrath from them." Jeremiah 18:20

"Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house." Proverbs 17:13

Next; the Master recalls this unforgiving servant and now addresses him as an Evil Servant and recalls to his, the wicked servant's mind, the mercy and compassion that He personally extended to him previously. The Master becomes enraged because of this wicked servants inordinate behavior and orders him to be delivered to the jailers until his debt is paid in full. Let's return to the Savior's Model Prayer for some guidance on forgiveness. We should look at the entire passage that leads up to the part concerning forgiveness. Let's read and analyze the passage taken from Matthew chapter 6.

"Take heed that you do not do your merciful deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in Heaven.
Therefore when you do your merciful deeds, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have glory from men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
But when you do merciful deeds, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does,
so that your merciful deeds may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret Himself shall reward you openly.
And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
But you, when you pray, enter into your room. And shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.
But when you pray, do not babble vain words, as the nations. For they think that in their much speaking they shall be heard.
Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask Him.
Therefore pray in this way: Our Father, who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you;
but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:1-15

This passage starts with committing deeds of mercy and doing this on the PDQ so as not to generate self-acclaim and self-praise. The Heavenly Father knows the works of all men whether they are evil or good. Sounding a trumpet to gain attention for an act of charity only gives reward of men. So many benefactors/philanthropists love to be acknowledged publicly for their deeds of charitable giving. They want the public to lavish them with praise and adulation for their works of donating to assorted causes. They have their reward...praise of men! However, the more important praise that one should seek, can only come from Father Yahweh. One who gives in secret is rewarded openly by Father Yahweh as stated. The same goes for prayer, prayers should be a private conversation between the prayer and the recipient of that prayer, Father Yahweh! If that prayer is to please men, and or self, the one praying has wasted his time and they have also have received their reward, they are seen by man (not Yahweh) as holy, pious, and righteous in the eyes of men (again not by Yahweh).

Going to the major point under discussion for this article, we can find the two passages we want to concentrate on, verses 14-15. "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you;
but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Can it get any plainer than this? If we cannot forgive our fellow man for their transgressions either real or imagined against us; we cannot be forgiven! What is so hard to understand about these words from our Savior Yahshua? Why is it that a Superior of the magnitude of our Heavenly Father and His beloved Son our Savior Yahshua can forgive us but...we cannot seemingly forgive our fellow man who dwell at the same level with us? Are we that filled with hatred? Do we continuously bear grudges of no actual consequence just to satisfy our self-justified mind state? Must we as humans always be the holier than thou unforgiving people because it was/is someone else's fault or sin against us that is so important that we as condescending self-righteous UNFORGIVING humans, cannot find it in our hearts to be the better person and just let it go? Why in Heaven's Name can't we forgive?

Who loses when there is no forgiveness? The Apostle Paul has this to say on that particular matter.

"But to whom you forgive anything, I forgive also: for what I also have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, for your sakes have I forgiven it in the person of Messiah;
that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices." 2 Corinthians 2:10-11

Satan stands to gain where there is no forgiveness. If you cannot forgive someone then Satan gets the victory over you and he now controls you. Satan gains the advantage because of non-forgiveness! And Satan will continue to control you as long as your wicked heart/mind remains unforgiving! And when Satan gains a foothold on your life, everything goes downhill from there. Do you find yourself in the following passages?

"For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not consumed one of another.
But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that you may not do the things that you would.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, heresies,
envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they which practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of Yahweh." Galatians 5:14-21

Every evil work in these passages will be practiced by those falling victim to Satan's devices. Once Satan gains an inroad into your heart/mind the works of the flesh will become evident and apparent for all to see. Would you think that acts of unforgiveness could trigger such an avalanche of wicked works? When someone cannot forgive their fellow man regardless of who is at fault, their mindset is transformed into another behavior pattern, one that aligns with Satan. The works of the flesh needs only one trigger to start a chain reaction of events that will lead to the demise of those who cannot love their neighbor enough to forgive them.

"If anyone says, I love Yahweh, and hates his brother, he is a liar. For the one not loving his brother whom he has seen, how is he able to love Yahweh whom he has not seen?" 1 John 4:20

IF THE PERSON LEADING YOUR ORGANIZATION IS A CONTROL FREAK, YOU ARE IN A CULT! GET OUT!

Yours in Yahshua, Hawke