What does the Bible say about unforgiveness? | Forgiveness & Forgiving Others | GotQuestions.org

The Bible’s Teaching on Forgiveness and Unforgiveness

Today's question is, what does the Bible say about unforgiveness? In this video I'll answer that question from a biblical perspective. Afterwards, as always, I'll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the end.

The Bible has quite a bit to say about forgiveness and unforgiveness. Perhaps the most well-known teaching on unforgiveness is Jesus' parable of the unmerciful servant, recorded in Matthew 18, verses 21–35.

In the parable, a king forgives an enormously large debt—basically, one that could never be repaid—of one of his servants. Later, however, that same servant refuses to forgive the small debt of another man.

Forgiveness, Faith, and God’s Grace

The king hears about this and rescinds his prior forgiveness. Jesus concludes by saying, "...this is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you, unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.".

Matthew 18, verse 35. Other passages tell us that we will be forgiven as we forgive. See Matthew 6, verse 14, for example. Do not be confused here. God's forgiveness is not based on our works. Forgiveness and salvation are founded completely in the person of God and by Jesus' redeeming work on the cross.

However, our actions demonstrate our faith and the extent to which we understand God's grace. See Luke 7, verse 47. We are completely unworthy, yet Jesus chose to pay the price for our sin and give us forgiveness Romans 5, verse 8.

When we truly grasp the greatness of God's gift to us, we will pass the gift along. We have been given grace and should give grace to others in return. In the parable, we are appalled at the servant who would not forgive a minor debt after having been forgiven his unpayable debt.

Yet when we are unforgiving, we act just as the servant in the parable. Unforgiveness also robs us of the full life God intends for us. Rather than promote justice, our unforgiveness festers into bitterness.

Unforgiveness, Bitterness, and Spiritual Danger

Hebrews 12, verses 14 -15 warns, "...make every effort to live in peace with everyone, and to be holy. Without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no bitter root rises up to cause trouble and defile many.".

Similarly, 2 Corinthians 2, verses 5 -11 warns that unforgiveness can be an opening for Satan to derail us. We also know that those who have sinned against us and whom we may not want to forgive are held accountable by God.

Romans 12, verse 19. It is important to recognize that to forgive is not to downplay a wrongdoing, or necessarily to reconcile. When we choose to forgive, we release a person from his indebtedness to us.

We relinquish the right to seek personal revenge. We choose to say we will not hold this wrongdoing against him. However, we do not necessarily allow that person back into our trust, or even fully release that person from the consequences of his sin.

What Forgiveness Does and Does Not Mean

We are told, The wages of sin is death. Romans 6, verse 23. While God's forgiveness releases us from eternal death, it does not always release us from the death-like consequences of sin, such as a broken relationship or the penalty provided by the justice system.

Forgiveness does not mean we act as if no wrong has been done. It does mean we recognize that grace abundant has been given to us and that we have no right to hold someone else's wrongdoing over his head.

Time and again, Scripture calls us to forgive one another. Ephesians 4, verse 32, for example, says, Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God.

Forgave you.

We have been given much in the way of forgiveness, and much is expected from us in response. Luke 12, verse 48. Though forgiveness is often difficult, to be unforgiving is to disobey God and to depreciate the greatness of His gift.

Want to learn more?

Subscribe so you don't miss the next video! Visit GotQuestions .org for more great content. And check out the details section below this video, there is one book I recommend, along with several related articles.

If you'd like to learn about Bible Munch, or if you're interested in Bite-sized devotionals, subscribe to Bible Munch on YouTube, it's linked right here. Now remember,. Got questions? The Bible has answers, and we'll help you find them!