Continuing our learning on how to truly love people, we are still under the first topic in I. Cor. 13:4-7 which is "Love is patient." We continue on with the subtopic of patience, which is longsuffering, which is showing mercy and forgiveness to everyone. In part one we covered mercy. Now, in part 2, we'll look at all scriptures pertaining to forgiveness.
Look at this example of forgiveness exerted by Joseph. This is what it looks like to forgive someone.
Genesis 50:15-21 NIV
[15] When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” [16] So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: [17] ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. [18] His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. [19] But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? [20] You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. [21] So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Wow!! Awesome example. Ok moving right along.
Proverbs 19:11 NIV
[11] A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
[14] For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 18:21-35 NIV
[21] Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” [22] Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. [23] “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. [24] As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. [25] Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. [26] “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ [27] The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. [28] “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. [29] “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ [30] “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. [31] When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. [32] “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. [33] Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ [34] In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. [35] “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Mark 11:25 NIV
[25] And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Luke 6:37-38 NIV
[37] “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. [38] Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
*This is great because it says whatever you give, it will be given back to you in abundance.
Luke 17:3-4 NIV
[3] So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. [4] Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
This next one shows how to forgive within the local church you go to. Build up. Always build up and restore.
2 Corinthians 2:5-8 NIV
[5] If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. [6] The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. [7] Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. [8] I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.
Ephesians 4:32 NIV
[32] Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Colossians 3:13 NIV
[13] Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
So, there we go. When "love is patient," part of that is being longsuffering, which is being merciful and always forgiving people. In part 3, we will learn what patience is and what it looks like in the scriptures.
See? I told ya. This is truly going to take awhile to get through all the topics of what love is that is found in our anchor passage, which is. I. Cor. 13:4-7. Come along with me on this ride. We are learning together as we go!!
Love you dear readers,
Jeffrey Post
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