Forgiveness is not just a suggestion but a radical command from Jesus, who calls us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us. This teaching challenges the natural human response to hurt and injustice, inviting us to break cycles of bitterness and retaliation. True forgiveness means letting go of the right to get even and instead choosing to respond with compassion, even when it feels impossible. Jesus’ words remind us that our love and forgiveness should extend beyond those who are easy to love, reaching even those who have wronged us deeply. [08:39]
Luke 6:27-32 (ESV)
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.”
Reflection: Who is someone you struggle to forgive or love right now, and what is one practical step you can take today to pray for them or bless them as Jesus commands?
Forgiveness is not just a personal virtue but a reflection of God’s own forgiveness toward us. As God’s chosen people, we are called to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving whatever grievances we have. This kind of forgiveness is not based on whether the other person deserves it, but on the example of Christ, who forgave us completely. When we choose to forgive, we participate in the unity and peace that Christ desires for His body, the church, and we experience the freedom that comes from letting go of resentment. [18:35]
Colossians 3:12-15 (ESV)
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
Reflection: Is there a grievance or hurt you are still holding onto? What would it look like to forgive as the Lord forgave you, even if the other person never apologizes?
Even in the midst of unimaginable suffering, Jesus demonstrated the ultimate act of forgiveness by praying for those who crucified Him, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” His willingness to forgive in the face of betrayal, pain, and injustice sets the standard for us as His followers. We are called to look to Jesus, not only as our Savior but as our example, trusting that He will give us the strength to forgive when it feels impossible. When we fix our eyes on Him, we find the courage to lay down our right to judge and instead extend grace, just as He did. [23:55]
Luke 23:34 (ESV)
“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide his garments.”
Reflection: When you think about Jesus forgiving those who hurt Him, what is one area of your life where you need to follow His example and ask God for the strength to forgive?
Holding onto unforgiveness is like locking ourselves in a prison for which we hold the key; it poisons our hearts and keeps us from experiencing the peace and freedom God desires for us. Unforgiveness can consume our thoughts, fuel our anger, and even affect our relationships and health, while the person we resent may not even be aware of our pain. The act of forgiving is not about excusing the wrong or forgetting the hurt, but about releasing ourselves from the burden and entrusting justice to God. When we choose to forgive, we step out of the prison of bitterness and into the light of Christ’s healing. [24:54]
Matthew 18:21-22 (ESV)
“Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.’”
Reflection: Is there a situation where unforgiveness has been weighing you down? What would it look like to hand the key to Jesus and step out of that prison today?
Forgiveness is not something we can accomplish in our own strength; it requires daily focus on Jesus, honest prayer, and humble dependence on God’s grace. When we bring our pain, anger, and struggles to Him, He meets us with compassion and empowers us to do what feels impossible. By meditating on His Word, seeking His presence, and remembering that He bore our burdens on the cross, we find the hope and strength to forgive others and ourselves. Jesus walks with us in this journey, inviting us to lay our hurts at His feet and experience the freedom and peace He offers. [25:42]
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally focus on Jesus today—through prayer, Scripture, or worship—so that He can give you the strength to forgive?
Forgiveness is one of the most challenging commands Jesus gives us, yet it is central to the Christian life. Growing up in a Sicilian family, I saw firsthand how grudges can last for generations, often outliving the original offense. These grudges, rooted in pride and a sense of being wronged, end up hurting everyone involved. My own family experienced years of estrangement over a business dispute, only to realize—when faced with mortality—how empty and wasted those years of bitterness were. The reconciliation between my father and uncle, though late, was a powerful reminder that forgiveness is always possible, and that holding onto anger only robs us of precious time and peace.
Jesus’ words in Luke 6 challenge us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hurt us, and to pray for those who mistreat us. This is not just a lofty ideal; it’s a command that cuts to the heart of our faith. It’s easy to love those who love us, but the real test is how we respond to those who have wronged us deeply. In my own life, especially through the journey of adoption, I have wrestled with anger and hatred toward those who have harmed my children. The pain and injustice are real, and forgiveness does not mean ignoring or excusing evil. But I have learned that holding onto unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die—it only destroys us from the inside.
Scripture calls us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving as the Lord forgave us. This is not a call to minimize our pain, but to bring it honestly before God, trusting that only He can bear the weight of our wounds. We are not better than those who have sinned against us; all of us are in need of grace. Jesus, even as He was being crucified, prayed for His enemies: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” If we call ourselves followers of Christ, we must look to Him as our example and source of strength.
Forgiveness is not a one-time act, but a daily decision to lay down our right to judge and to trust God with justice and healing. It is a process that requires humility, prayer, and a constant focus on Jesus. When we forgive, we unlock the prison we have built for ourselves and step into the freedom and peace that Christ offers. The cross is the answer, and Jesus is waiting for us to lay our burdens down and experience the unity and love He desires for His people.
Luke 6:27-32 (ESV) — > “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.”
Colossians 3:12-15 (ESV) — > “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
Luke 23:34 (ESV) — > “And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide his garments.”
He wants us to experience that peace. He wants us to experience the peace that Jesus has for us. Not a peace of this world because look at what the world does. Look at the division the world does. Look at what they did. Look at what the world did to my children. But if I focus on Jesus, I will have a part of that peace. [00:19:31] (27 seconds) #PeaceBeyondTheWorld
Am I better than the caretakers? Am I better than the people that would sedate the kids? No. Not. Because I still sin. And my sin still sets me apart from God. All sin sets you apart from God. I'm Barabbas. I'm Barabbas. We are Barabbas. My sins might look different, but still, I need Jesus to bring me to God. [00:20:00] (47 seconds) #SinSeparatesUsAll
If I am the judge, if I'm the one who says, that sin's okay, this person's okay, well, this person's still a good person, he might not do this, but he's, you know, then what was the need for the cross? What was the need for Jesus? There was no need. [00:20:46] (18 seconds) #TheCrossIsNecessary
To say out loud, I truly feel at one point in my life I will be able to forgive those people. I have to. Because all it's doing is putting me in a prison that I have the key to. That's the interesting point. I'm putting myself in a cage that I have a key to. All I have to do is focus on Jesus and forgive. And all we have to do is lay it at the cross. That cross is the answer. [00:25:01] (40 seconds) #ForgivenessIsFreedom
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