Psalms 103:8-17
“YAHWEH is compassionate and showing favor, patient, and great in kindness. He does not always strive, nor maintain it forever. He has not done to us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our wickedness’s, for as the heavens are higher above the earth, so great is His kindness toward those who fear Him; as far as east is from west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a dad has compassion for his children, so YAHWEH has compassion for those who fear Him. For He knows how we are made; He remembers that we are dust. A man’s days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind blows over it, and it is no more, and its place no longer remembers it. But the kindness of YAHWEH is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children.”
2 Peter 3:9
“YAHWEH is not slow in regard to the promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward us, not wanting that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
As we see our Father YAHWEH’s mercy endures forever. He is patient, kind, loving, and forgiving. He did not strike us down for or sins knowing that we are worthy of death. Paul said:
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death. But the gift of ELOHIM is eternal life through YESHUA HA’MASHIACH our Master.”
Since we all have sinned before a holy ELOHIM we are worthy of death, but YAHWEH chose not to kill us, but rather forgive us! YAHWEH sent His only begotten Son to become sin for us and FORGIVE US of our sins! To put this into perspective, just think of the worst thing that you have ever done in your life, and if you repent of that sin He will forgive you, and receive you with open arms just like the prodigal son parable that YESHUA told. How many of us could receive someone with open arms after they have done something to us that we deem is unforgivable? Like taking all of your money, not paying you back what they owe, stealing from you, talking about you behind your back, or catching your husband or wife committing adultery? Would you forgive them?
Mathew 18:21-22
“Then Peter came to Him and said, My Master, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? YESHUA said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”
1 John 3:15
“Everyone hating his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has everlasting life staying in him.”
Forgiveness is one of the hardest things for believers to overcome, because it requires humility and love to not hold a grudge against someone. Many people will lose friends and family over this because they have hardened their hearts and do not want to say the words “I forgive you.” The enemy has placed it on the hearts of believers to accept the mentality of pride when they are wronged by saying “You don’t want to see my bad side”, “You don’t want to try to me or get on my bad side”, “I wear my religion on my sleeve.” “If this person does this to me they are going to know about it.” This hardening of the heart has no room for repentance, nor does it allow you to forgive someone. Not forgiving someone and holding a grudge can destroy marriages, friendships, and families.
Testament of Zebulon 8:1-6
“Therefore, my children, you yourselves should have compassion towards every man with kindness, that YAHWEH also may have compassion and kindness upon you. Because in the last days ELOHIM will send His compassion on the earth, and wherever He finds bowels of kindness He dwells in him. For in the degree in which a man has compassion upon his neighbors, in the same degree has YAHWEH also in him. And when we went down to Egypt, Joseph bore no malice against us. To the ones on guard, you also, my children, approve yourselves without malice, and love one another; do not set down in account, each one of you, evil against his brother. For this breaks unity and DIVIDES ALL FAMILIES, and troubles the being, and wears away the face.”
Remember, YESHUA died for us to forgive us of our sins even though He committed no sin and He did not ask questions or hold it over our heads. He simply went to the execution stake and was obedient to the point of death because He loves us. How easy would it have been for YESHUA to say “You know what I remember that time you broke the Sabbath, I remember the time you celebrated pagan holidays, I remember every sin you did, so no I don’t forgive you and never will.” Not only would we be crushed knowing we have no salvation, but He would be completely justified. However He didn’t do this, nor did it ever enter into His mind; therefore, we must walk like YESHUA walked.
1 John 2:6
“The one who says he stays in Him out himself also to walk, even as He (YESHUA) walked.”
Mathew 6:14-15
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Father of the heavens shall also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither shall you Father forgive your trespasses.”
I expect to be forgiven but I don’t have to forgive!
This seems to be the mentality of many who say they know YESHUA! If this is how you are thinking today, please repent and guard yourselves because YESHUA spoke on this very matter:
Mathew 18:23-35
“Because of this the reign of the heavens is like a certain man, a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand Talanton, but he was unable to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. Then the servant fell down before him, saying, “Master, have patience with me, and I shall pay you all.’ “And the master of that servant was moved with compassion released him, and forgave him the debt. And that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver pieces. And he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe! Then his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I shall pay you all.’ “But he would not, and went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. And when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were deeply grieved, and came and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master called him and said to him, ‘Wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt seeing you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, as I also had compassion on you? And his master was wroth, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So also My Father of the heavens shall do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
As you can see the servant that was forgiven owed way more than the one who owed him. We can liken this to YAHWEH and YESHUA having compassion on us for our many sins, but still forgave us through the blood of His Son. But then we go out to someone who has wronged us and cannot forgive them for the small trespass against us when we are all guilty of greater debt of sins. YAHWEH forgave us therefore we shall certainly forgive others, and as we see this deed will not go unpunished on judgment day.
What commonly takes place is that if a person does something to offend someone else then they feel that the one they wronged is required to forgive them saying “I said I was sorry!”. But the moment that same person gets offended by what someone does to them, then they cannot find it in their heart to forgive them as they forgave you. Is this how a believer should act? Does our Father YAHWEH do this to us? Absolutely not! The first things believers will quickly say when they sin is “YAHWEH will forgive me!” So you automatically expect YAHWEH to forgive you, but that you are not automatically expected to forgive others? That is not how YAHWEH works!
Ephesians 4:31-32
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and displeasure, and uproar, and slander be put away from you, along with all evil. And be kind towards one another, tenderhearted, FORGIVING one another, as YAHWEH also forgave you in Messiah.”
Sirach 10:6
“Do not bear hatred against your neighbor for every wrong; and do not act as an insulter at all.”
Sirach 28:1-5
“He who is vengeful shall find vengeance from YAHWEH, and He shall surely keep account of his sins. Forgive your neighbor the harm that he has done to you, so your sins shall also be forgiven when you pray. One man bears hatred against another; and should he seek forgiveness from YAHWEH? He shows no kindness to a man, who is like himself; and does he ask forgiveness of his own sins? If he who is but flesh maintains hatred, who shall pray forgiveness for his sins?
Testament of Simeon 4:1-6
“And my dad asked concerning me, because he saw that I was sad. And I said to him, I’ am pained in my liver.’ For I mourned more than they all, because I was guilty of the selling Joseph. And when we went down into Egypt, and he bound me as a spy, I knew that I was suffering justly, and I did not grieve. Now Joseph was a good man, and had the Spirit of ELOHIM within him; being compassionate and pitiful, he bore no malice against me; but loved me even as the rest of his brothers. Beware, therefore, my children, of all jealousy and envy, and walk in singleness of being with good heart, keeping in mind Joseph your dad’s brother, that ELOHIM may give you also favor and esteem, and blessing upon your heads, even as you saw in Joseph’s case. All his days he did not despise us concerning this thing (forgiveness), but loved us as his own being, and esteemed us beyond his own sons, and gave us riches, and cattle and fruits.”
We see that Joseph was hated by his brothers and they sold him into slavery, yet he did not hold it against them. Joseph forgave them and had them to live in the best part of Egypt and provided for them during the famine. How many people would be able to forgive their family for doing this to them? How many can forgive their mom or dad if they abandoned them at a young age? We all need to be like Joseph and forgive and like YESHUA said forgive seventy times seven. And always look to the greatest act of forgiveness and love that we cannot even comprehend, the blood atonement of YESHUA!
So if you are holding a grudge against a friend, neighbor or family member in your heart let today be the day that you tell them “I forgive you.” Because holding on to such weight will not only destroy you physically, but you will have to give an account for this on judgment day, so ask yourself this question is it worth it? The answer is NO!
May YAHWEH bless you in YESHUA’s Name!