Be Willing to Forgive

Note from today’s Bible reading: Luke 17-18

In teaching His disciples about forgiveness, Jesus said, “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him” (Luke 17:3). The first step (rebuke) is needed in order to persuade one to repent. The second step (forgiveness) is necessary in order to restore the relationship and encourage the one who sinned not to turn back to it.

Sometimes we wonder whether we ought to forgive one who has not repented. We should certainly be willing to forgive. However, to forgive someone before he repents is to ignore the first part of Jesus’ instruction – the part that is meant to encourage repentance (rebuke). Not long before this, Jesus said that a sinner’s repentance would cause heaven to rejoice (Luke 15:7, 10). When we try to correct someone and are then willing to forgive, we help bring about this joyous result.

Is there a limit to the number of times we are to be willing to forgive? No. Jesus said, “And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him” (Luke 17:4). His point was not that we keep a detailed record of our brother’s sins; rather, we are to be ready to forgive at all times.

So be willing to forgive. When someone recognizes that he has done wrong and wants to make things right, we should be happy to receive him back. Until then, we should try to help the one in sin to see his need to repent.