Volume 26, Issue 4
Page 14
WisconsinChristianNews.com
Matthew 5:3-12, The Greatest Sermon (Part Two)
By Dr. Mike Spaulding August 2025 We left off this in Matthew 5:6. Let’s begin today with 5:7. study
Instead of forgiving, the first thing on too many people’s minds is get- ting even. I want to point out the importance of forgiveness from Jesus’ perspec- tive by giving you a preview of what we’ll look at later. In chapter 6:14-
“forgive.”
Now, this is where we stopped in the last article; or more accurately God put the brakes on me. I hadn’t planned it, but I sensed that there was more that needed to be said on this subject.
1) aphiemi – to send away; to bid going away or depart; to let go, give up a debt, forgive. This is the word used in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and right- eous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteous- ness.” This verse tells us that God “sends away” our sins. He casts them away from us; and He remem- bers them no more. Another verse that uses the same idea of casting sins away or forgiv- ing without remembering is 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act un- becomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered.” There is one sure fire way to know whether or not someone has truly forgiven you of something. That is to notice if, when a disagreement arises, the other person brings out the “laundry list” of your past mis- takes. If you hear something like “you always do that,” then someone is keeping an account and true for- giveness is not happening. There’s another saying that is prevalent today as well that gives us some insight. Have you ever heard someone say “I’ll forgive but I’ll never forget?” The thing I’ve no- ticed about most of the people who say that is they are normally angry when they do. It seems obvious to me that they haven’t really forgiven. Sometimes forgiveness is a process. If we have been deeply hurt, it takes time for the wound to heal. In this case forgiveness acts as a continual cleansing of the wound so that it can heal properly. As we think about a person who has hurt us or sinned against us, feelings of resentment and emo- tional pain well up. Then we must reaffirm our commitment to forgive them. It is not that the first act of forgiveness was invalid, but that an ongoing process may be necessary until we are completely healed. Continued On Page 15
Now, notice a shift in focus start- ing in verse 7.
The first four Beatitudes deal with internal things leading to salvation. Recognizing our spiritual poverty; mourning leading to repentance; humbleness leading to giving God control; growing in faith by feeding on God’s Word. So, after outlining the necessity of the new birth, Jesus begins to explain what being a Christian looks like. In approaching it this way, Jesus is saying that the inter- nal changes He spoke of will result in specific external characteristics. The first one He mentions is mercy or forgiveness. This is a message that permeates the entire New Testament. It is a message that we need to hear again and again and again. Our culture is be- coming increasingly unforgiving.
15 we read:
Forgiveness, extending mercy, is one of those areas where Christians can struggle sometimes. In spite of the clear teaching of the Bible on this subject, Christians do find it difficult to extend mercy. Sometimes people will do some- thing to hurt you and when they find out how gracious you are, they will do it all over again. Here’s an il- lustration of that. A couple was just finishing their shopping at the mall when they dis- cover their brand new car has been stolen. They file a report with the police and a detective drives them back to the parking lot to look for evidence. To their amazement, the car has been returned, and there’s a note on it that says, “I apologize for taking your car. My wife was having a baby and I had to hot-wire your ignition and rush her to the hospital. Please forgive the incon- venience. Here are two tickets to tonight’s Rolling Stones concert.” Their faith in humanity restored, the couple attends the concert. But when they return home, they find their house has been ransacked. On the bathroom mirror is another note: “I have to put my kid through college somehow, don’t I?”
“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Fa- ther will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Fa- ther will not forgive your transgres- sions.”
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Mike Spaulding interviews authors, researchers, and other people who are making a difference in the communities in which they live. Listen on on www.soaringeagleradio.com, WTTP FM in Lima, Ohio, on Global Star Radio Network Saturdays at 7pm EST, on Talk America Radio, and on Worldview Weekend Radio. Questions or comments may be sent to PastorMike@cclohio.org SoaringEagleRadio.com
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