🙏Introduction
What can we say about forgiveness, or rather, what can’t we say about forgiveness? We have all experienced moments in our lives where we have faced the most difficult task for humans: forgiving another person or not, depending on our choice. The choice to forgive is one of the hardest decisions we humans confront in our lives, to the point that if we compare the difficulty of letting go of a loved one in their final hours or forgiving someone who has deeply hurt us, many wouldn’t know which to choose. However, the Bible tells us that we are called to forgive. Therefore, we must refer to the Bible. First, let’s look at:
📖Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Notice that God doesn’t say «if we feel ready,» but «be kind…forgiving each other.» Forgiveness is an act of obedience more than emotion. Here we see that God forgives us and asks us to forgive one another. If God says so, why not do it?
We can also refer to the book of:
📖Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Again, we see here that God asks us to forgive one another and lets us know that if we don’t, He won’t forgive us. I know it’s difficult sometimes, but we must put forth our best effort to do it, always remembering that if we don’t, the Lord won’t forgive us.
Practical example:
Let’s think about situations at work or with friends: a hurtful comment, a misunderstanding, or a minor betrayal may seem insignificant, but if we don’t forgive them, resentment builds up, affecting our mood, our health, and our ability to relate to others.
We can also refer to:
📖Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Here in the verses above, we can see how Jesus tells us that even if we are offended more than once, we must forgive.
📖Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
It’s not just about forgiving, but also about being considerate of others, tolerating their differences and offenses. Personally, I’ve had to work hard on this because of my temperament, the way I grew up, and the environment I was in—the things we’re exposed to every day throughout our lives. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so difficult to forgive others.
We also see it in our own families: there are divided families where one sibling can’t forgive another for just a family argument; a father who can’t forgive his son for disobeying or not doing what he sees as right; a mother who can’t forgive her daughter for having a child before marriage; and the list goes on. The reasons may be countless, but they’re not justifiable. It’s just what one person sees, not what others see.
That is why the Lord told us that we must bear with one another, forgive one another, endure differences, tolerate contradictions, and even disagree on opinions. We must also forgive, no matter what, however serious it may seem—nothing compared to what the Lord suffered and endured for us, even though we deserved nothing from Him.
📖Mark 11:25-26
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. For if you do not forgive others their sins, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your sins.
Consequences and Benefits of Forgiveness
If we do not forgive: we accumulate resentment, pain, and a lack of peace; our relationship with God is affected; our emotional health and our human relationships suffer.
If we forgive: we free our hearts, experience peace, reconcile relationships, and grow spiritually.
Even small acts of forgiveness in everyday life, such as yielding in a conflict, apologizing first, or praying for someone who has hurt us, have a profound impact on our spirit and those around us.
Final Reflection
“Have you ever felt that forgiving is impossible, even after all that God has done for you?”
Practical Exercise:
Today, think of someone you need to forgive and take a concrete step: a prayer, a message, or a gesture of reconciliation. Don’t let resentment steal the peace God wants for you.
Autor: Sergio Granados
Ministerio / Blog: Precursores de Cristo.
Si este estudio edificó tu vida, siéntete libre de compartirlo con otros.
Precursores de Cristo 
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