1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV
[4] Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
As we continue our study on how to love all people by how we decide to treat them, we come to the last phrase in verse 5, "it keeps no record of wrongs." Severeal other translations say "it does not hold a grudge." "Holding a grudge" is when someone treats you badly and you hold it against them. My friends, what does that sound like? It sounds like unforgiveness. So, this phrase deals with unforgiveness in our hearts.
If we truly love someone we always forgive people. You might say, "But you don't know what they did to me." Doesn't matter. God says forgive them. You let it go, get it out of your spirit, and move on. Forgiveness helps you move on with your life, and allows you to love people no matter what has happened in the past. God gave us mercy and forgiveness through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus, and He expects the same from us, His children. We give the same mercy and forgiveness that has been given to us. Therefore, we never hold a grudge, but we always forgive everyone, no matter what happens.
Let's look at scripture regarding forgiveness:
Look at this great example Joseph gave to us on how to forgive people. Remember how badly his brothers treated him when he was a child. Look at his response years down the road:
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.
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.
Folks, we cannot hold anything against anyone ever! This will allow us to truly love people.
Matthew 18:21-22 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.
Wow!! Look at this!!
Matthew 18:23-35 NIV
[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 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.
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.”
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 4:26, 32 NIV
[26] “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
[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.
All of these passages are self-explanatory. We always forgive because God forgave us. Never hold a grudge.
Love you all dear readers,
Jeffrey Post
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