Thursday, September 25, 2025
New Testament Reading Plan: 2 Corinthians 3
Forgiveness is more than a choice - it’s a command from Jesus.
Matthew 6:12 NIV
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
This verse was written by the Apostle Matthew to both Jewish and Gentile Christians. It is part of the Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus used to instruct his disciples how to pray. He used the terms debts and debtors because his first century followers would have understood the process of owing and paying back debt.
Forgiveness is at the very heart of what it means to be a Christ follower. It is a choice we make in our heads, though it comes from our hearts. The choice to forgive others is what helps to heal our own internal hurts. We live in a sin-filled world, but by forgiving others we can demonstrate how God continues to forgive us.
Matthew 6:12 emphasizes the reciprocal nature of forgiveness. We reflect God’s forgiveness when we choose to forgive others’ sins.
The “Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor” in Matthew 18:21-35 serves as a great example. The king felt pity for the servant who owed millions of dollars in debt, so he forgave him. “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment” (Matthew 18:28). The forgiven man did not extend the king’s mercy to his fellow servant.
Unfortunately, forgiveness can be a difficult process, and it does not always lead to reconciliation. It takes two people to reconcile, but it takes only one person to forgive. And that is the choice that Jesus encourages us to make. Our willingness to forgive is evidence that we are living in God’s Kingdom.
The lyrics to “Forgiveness” by Matthew West say it well:
It’s the hardest thing to give away
And the last thing on your mind today…
It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside…
Forgiveness, forgiveness
I want to finally set it free
So show me how to see what your mercy sees
Help me now to give what you gave to me
Forgiveness, forgiveness
We must recognize that we need forgiveness before we can forgive others. Are you extending the King’s mercy and grace to your fellow servants?
Questions:
Is it difficult for you to forgive others? Why or why not?
How much would it cost you to forgive others? Is it worth it? Why?
Next Steps:
Listen to “Forgiveness” by Matthew West for a beautiful way to define forgiveness.
Make a list of the people whom you are struggling to forgive. Knowing that forgiveness is for the benefit of all, by prayer and petition, ask God for guidance and healing during the process. Once you choose to forgive someone, journal how it makes you feel.
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of forgiveness. Help me to understand how pivotal forgiveness is in my relationship with you and others. Please grant your intervention to help me forgive others. Thank you for the grace you offer me every day. Help me to extend that to others. It’s in Jesus’ name that I pray, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Romans 12:17-18
Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
This post was written by Jenn Macke, a Findlay attendee, and a regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.