Christian Living

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What does it really mean to forgive someone?

●Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

●Lord, Lay Not This Sin to Their Charge

THEN SAID JESUS, FATHER, FORGIVE THEM; FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO

Jesus was accused of blasphemy by the Sanhedrim (the judicial system of the Jews), the sentence of which is death. They had four forms of implementing capital punishment: by stoning; by burning; by beheading; and by strangling. However, the Roman judicial system took away their right of execution.
So Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate, who being the Roman governor over Judea, had the authority to sentence a criminal to death.
There seemed to be an arrangement that was understood between the Sanhedrim and the Roman governor of Judea in that at each feast of the Jews if there were criminals that were being bound in jail under the governor, who were to be executed, the Sanhedrim were allowed to request the release of one of them.

Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. MARK 15:6

Pilate stands before a crowd of Jews and asks them who would they like to be freed? The chief priests persuaded them to condemn Christ, and free a murderer named Barabbas, who had killed people in an uprising against the government.

Jesus was then apprehended and beaten with whips; spat upon; and was bowed to in mock homage by placing a reed in his hand, a scarlet robe on his back, and a crown of thorns on his head.

He was then nailed to a cross between two other malefactors (evil doers).
Above his head was placed a notice which indicated his crime, which was, This is the King of the Jews. These words were written in the three learned languages: Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.
Those that were in his periphery both the people, the rulers of the Jews, and the Roman soldiers verbally abused him by criticizing his teachings and the proclamation of him being the king of the Jews as being that of a pretended Messiah.
At just about the time that darkness came over all the earth Jesus uttered these words:

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. LUKE 23:34

What was Jesus saying to the Father when he asked him to “forgive them”?

As I studied this word “forgive”, in this verse it means to give up a debt. Is there anything else that it could mean?

There is another story in the New Testament that talks about someone, who is falsely accused by the Sanhedrim and is subsequently stoned to death. His words are similar to Jesus words. Let’s take a look at his story and see if we can find out a little bit more about this word “forgive”.

Please go to Acts 7.

CHAPTER 3

LORD, LAY NOT THIS SIN TO THEIR CHARGE

This story is about a man named Stephen, who was chosen by the members of the church at Jerusalem along with six others, whose responsibility was to assist in the daily administration of food and money to the widowed Grecian Jews (Jewish immigrants to Palestine-those who spoke Greek) at Jerusalem.
On a particular day as God enabled him to perform great wonders and miracles among the people he became embroiled in an argument with certain members of a synagogue, known as the synagogue of the Libertines, which means free men, who were at one time slaves.
They were not able to respond to the wisdom (the knowledge of the scriptures) that he spoke, the words of which were given to him by the Holy Spirit. So they bribed certain people to accuse him of speaking blasphemous (evil) words against Moses and God. This caused such a stir among those in attendance that he was apprehended and brought before the Sanhedrim (the judicial system of the Jews).
He was asked by the judicial authority if he had indeed blasphemed (spoken evil) against Moses and God.
As Stephen spoke in response to these allegations they became so incensed with what he was saying that they grabbed him, took him outside of the city of Jerusalem and stoned him to death. Before he died he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice to Jesus saying:

…Lord, lay not this sin to their charge… (ACTS 7:60)

This verse is not only similar in context and words as to what Jesus said on the cross it also mirrors the words of Christ in Matt 5:44 concerning what our response should be to our enemies:

…your enemies, …pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (MATTHEW 5:44)

Stephen’s words appear to mean that he was asking God to not exact punishment toward them or hold it against them with the view toward their salvation.

It is interesting to note that one of those who was present at Stephen’s stoning was a man named Saul, who later would become converted to the Christian faith, and be known as the apostle Paul.

And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. ACTS 7:58

So we can conclude with some certainty that Jesus prayer to “forgive” and Stephen’s prayer to “lay not this sin to their charge” means that the believer should pray to God the Father that he not punish those (unbelievers) who caused them physical injury along with a view of the victim’s hope for their salvation.

While I agree wholeheartedly that we as believers should reflect upon this same mindset when we have been caused physical injury by unbelievers for our faith.

However, the question remains should a believer reflect upon this same mindset when they are injured in their character, person, or property by a fellow believer?

I’m sure that most of us would say yes. As Jesus treated all those who rejected him so he would treat those who believed in him.

What does it mean to forgive a fellow believer?

Hopefully as you continue reading you will find out as to whether forgiveness in regards to an unbeliever and believer is to be implemented in the same manner.

With this in mind the next chapter will attempt to answer this question, if a believer is injured in their character, person, or property by a fellow believer are they to forgive them in the same manner that Jesus and Stephen forgave those (unbelievers), who injured them?

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