2 Corinthians 2 - 10.14.26

Scripture: 2 Cor 2:10-11

“Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”

Observation

There was a member in the Corinthian church that had offended the church. After a period of discipline, Paul urges the church to forgive him. Paul reminds the church that we need to forgive so that Satan does not take advantage of us. We are not ignorant of Satan’s schemes. This verse tells us that if we choose to hold a grudge against someone, we are falling into Satan’s schemes.

In a parallel passage, the Bible says, “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (Eph 4:26-27). The message of this verse is that if we hold unforgiveness in our hearts, it is the same as giving place to the devil in our hearts. Holding unforgiveness is like setting up a sofa in our heart, inviting the devil to sit on it. 

In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus taught us to pray “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). Jesus even said that if we do not forgive others their sins, our Father will not forgive our sins (Matthew 6:15). Jesus said, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25). 

Jesus took this one step further in Matthew 5:24-25. He said, when you come to offer your gift at the altar, and you remember that someone has something against you (not that you have something against someone), leave your gift at the altar and go and first be reconciled to your brother, and then come back and offer your gift.

We are called to forgive regardless of whether the offender has apologized. We are called to forgive seven times seven times for the same offense each day (Matt 18:22).

Application

Let us examine our hearts to see if we have any “root of bitterness” in our hearts against anyone, causing ourselves to be defiled (Heb 12:15). Holding unforgiveness does not affect the person who is unforgiven. It affects the person who refuses to forgive.

If someone is continuing to harm us, let us use the wisdom God has given us to be as wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove (Matt 10:16), and take steps to put ourselves out of harm’s way. At the same time, let us guard our hearts against unforgiveness and choose to forgive everyone, no matter how deeply they may have hurt us or how deserving we may feel they are of our resentment.

Let us prayerfully obey the Lord' s commandment, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matt 5:44).

Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for loving me and forgiving me of my sins. Thank you for the blood of Jesus which washes me of all sins. Help me to search my heart. If I have unforgiveness in my heart, please show it to me. Help me to forgive those who have hurt me, just how you have forgiven me. I can’t do this on my own, Lord.  Please help me. I can do nothing without you (John 15:5) but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13). Help me to forgive and love as you have shown us, so that I can be like my heavenly Father (Matt 5:48). In Jesus’s name. Amen

- Asha Chacko George