How Do I Forgive People I Hate?

Image result for if you faith the size of a mustard seed

Sin, Faith, Duty

17:3-6  “If your brother or sister[a] 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.”
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
This is an instance where it is important to interpret a bible passage in its context within the overall teaching in a given chapter.  Most people take the verse, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea and it will obey you", and separate from Jesus' teaching on forgiveness.  Jesus is teaching the disciples to forgive their brother or sister no matter how many times they sin against them.  Jesus is using hyperbole when he says, "If they sin against you seven times in a day and come back saying they will repent, you must forgive them."  
What is Jesus saying?  Obviously if they sinned against us seven times in a day, it might cause us to doubt their sincerity.  After all, should we just keep letting someone sin over and over against us. But again Jesus is not saying this, he is teaching them that forgiveness is not possible without God's help, especially in trying situations.  This is why Jesus says, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed you can uproot trees and throw them into the sea."  Again he is not being literal.  He is saying if you have faith you can do something you never thought you could do.  
Forgiveness of one's enemies is one of the hardest things we are commanded by Jesus to do.  It is a deep work done in our heart, especially if we have been hurt badly.  We will certainly not "feel" like doing it, and we might possibly have developed hatred or at least deep resentment toward this person.  I talked to a woman today whose daughter was murdered by her husband.  Can you imagine she eventually was able to forgive this person?  I couldn't!  But with the faith the size the mustard seed we can do things we never thought possible.  
If you have someone you can't forgive in your own power, ask Jesus to give you the faith the size of a mustard seed.  You may not be able to throw a mulberry tree into the sea but you will sure have a burden lifted from you.  


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 22 - Paul Sees the Light

Image
6  “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.   7  I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me,  ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  8  “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.  “  ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,  whom you are persecuting,’  he replied.   9  My companions saw the light,  but they did not understand the voice  of him who was speaking to me.  10  “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “  ‘Get up,’  the Lord said,  ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. This is the famous story of the apostle Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.  Paul was going there to persecute Jewish Christians and throw them into prison and he meets Jesus is a spectacular way.  Not only is he blinded by a briliant light, but he hears the Lord's voice audibly.  And the Lord asks him, "Lord, Lord why are you persecuting me!"  Paul thought he was serving the Lord, but he was persecuting him b
Read more

Hebrews 6 - Have You Graduated From Elementary School of Faith Yet?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Hebrews 6 6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. The author once again picks up with the theme of moving on to Christian maturity.  He teaches them to move on from the "elementary" teachings about Christ. What does he mean by that?  He gives clues by citing repentance, faith, cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, and teaching on the judgment and resurrection from the dead. We might call these the basics of the Christian faith. If you read through the Apostle's Creed, which our church confesses in our 8am service, it contains many of these core doctrines.  Click here to see the Apostle's Creed Written Around “When we consider the
Read more

2 Timothy 4 - Fight the Good Fight! Finish the Race!

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Timothy 4 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Paul gives a closing charge to Timothy. First of all, he is to preach the word. God's Word speaks to all situations and seasons. The Word of God will sometimes correct us. Our lives can get of out alignment with God's will as outlined in
Read more