GENEROUS IN FORGIVING
Jenna Worsham
Today’s Scripture: “But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:15
Theme: Forgive others for their irritating faults and sinful mistakes rather than judging them when you are offended.
FAULTY PEOPLE
This is a super exciting opportunity to enumerate my flaws, and they are many. Jesus said something similar: “I tell you, her sins—and they are many” (Luke 7:47a, NLT). I feel like that woman. She’s in front of a crowd, and Jesus points out that she has many flaws. When I present a few of my own shortcomings, I hope they will help you feel better about being forgiven and accepted. First thing in the morning, I am cheerful and sometimes loud. “A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse” (Proverbs 27:14, NLT)! Yikes, I’ve offended everyone already. That’s enough about shortcomings, maybe grievances will be a better subject?
OFFENDED
Those who misspeak or mix up words often are not easily offended when others say something insulting. Naturally assuming something to be a misunderstanding rather than taking offense smooths over the interaction. However, naturally clear communicators might assume an accidental slight to be intentional. Choosing to believe the best about others is God-honoring, even if taking offense is my gut reaction. “The woman with many sins” comes from a narrative where Jesus’ feet are washed with expensive perfume. During this interaction, the host of the gathering was offended by Jesus: “When the Pharisee who had invited him observed this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner’” (Luke 7:39, NLT)! Simon, a Pharisee, judged the woman for her sins and judged Jesus for His tolerance. Yet, we know that everyone (except Jesus) is a sinner. Because His host is offended, Jesus tells a parable about loaned money and repaid debts, reminding us that we really must forgive.
WE REALLY MUST FORGIVE
The message Jesus is sending about the woman having many sins is not a personal attack on her. It is instead a compliment for her generosity, a reminder for the concerned host, and a way of judging and forgiving for us to emulate. Jesus admits, “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love” (Luke 7:47, NLT). Jesus did not have any imperfections, yet people were still offended by Him. As we see in this passage, He was better cared for by a person with many faults than one with few. The one who perceives himself to have fewer faults takes greater offense and is corrected. I must forgive because I know I have real faults and have caused many offenses. If I don’t know my own faultiness, I’m fooling myself, will be easily offended and will require correction.
Make It Personal: Which position is easier to relate to – that of the one whose sins are many, or that of the well-educated host concerned about the wholesomeness of the people in his home? Let’s pray that we can be generous in our forgiveness and slow to take offense.
Pray: Lord, thank You for forgiving us of our many faults and offenses. Help us to remember this when we are offended by others or injured because of their faults. You are so generous to us. Give us the compassionate hearts that love others the way You do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Read: Luke 7:36-47; Isaiah 44:22; 1 Kings 8:49-51
Weekly Memory Verse: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” Galatians 6:1, ESV