Mathew 27 Lesson

FORGIVENESS

All of us have been wronged at some point in our lives.

But we have not been wronged like Jesus! 

As Jesus was being crucified, He uttered the following twelve words:

“Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” – Luke 23:34.

If anyone had a right to seek vengeance it was Jesus, but He did not. 

Despite having been

1. Beaten,
2. Mocked,
3. Whipped,
4. Cursed at,
5. Spat at,

Jesus had forgiveness for those who wronged Him. 

And that is the example that we are to follow! 

When we are wronged, the Bible teaches us to do the same thing that Jesus did when He was wronged. 

To forgive!

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT FORGIVENESS

It is important to God that we forgive others. 

As children of God and disciples of Jesus, we are to demonstrate the love and compassion of Jesus by forgiving those who do us wrong. 

There are many Bible verses that talk about the importance of forgiveness. For today’s lesson, we have selected the following five:

1. "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” - Ephesians 4:32,
2. “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in Heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. [But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in Heaven forgive your transgressions.”] - Mark 11:25-26,
3. “If you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father willalso forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” -Mathew 6:14-15,
4. “Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” - Mathew 18:21-22,
5. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.” -Luke 6:37.

VENGEANCE BELONGS TO GOD

It is hard to read about the treatment that Jesus received as He was put to death.

And yet, as He was suffering, Jesus continued to think about others and to teach us about:

1. Humility,
2. Compassion,
3. And the importance of “turning the other cheek."

It is not our place to retaliate.  

If there is vengeance to be served, God will serve it, not us.  

Consider the following two scriptures:

1. “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” – Romans 12:19,
2. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.    If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.” – Mathew 5:38-40.

Jesus is God’s Son.  

He is deity!  

He could have called ten thousand angels to set Him free.    

And yet when they chanted, “Crucify Him!” He did not defend Himself.  

When they slapped Him, He did not fight back. 

Instead, He showed them compassion and asked His Father to forgive them!

That is what we should do also.

None of us will ever be put in the same situation that Jesus was.  

All of us, however, will be tested.

From time to time, we will find ourselves in situations where people are treating us poorly, and we may get the urge to retaliate in some way.   

The Bible teaches us not to do that!

Instead of retaliating when we are wronged, the Bible teaches us to “turn the other cheek.”

CONCLUSION

When we are offended, or angry, God does not want us to retaliate. 

Instead, He wants us to follow the example of His Son, Jesus. 

While Jesus was being murdered by an angry, blood-thirsty mob, He asked His Father to forgive them! 

As disciples of Jesus, we can learn a lot from Jesus’ example of compassion and forgiveness!

There is tremendous healing that takes place when somebody is forgiven a debt, especially a large one. 

The Bible teaches us that if we want to be forgiven for our trespasses, we must forgive those who trespass against us.

Sometimes, one single act of forgiveness is all somebody needs to get back on track and start living their lives for the Lord. 

We will end today’s lesson with the following scripture from the Gospel of Luke:

• “Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” -Luke 6:35.