I. What Is Forgiveness?

A. What It Is (Strong’s Hebrew/Greek Dictionary)

1. To send away, of a husband divorcing his wife
2. To let go, let be, let alone, to give up, to keep no longer
3. To disregard, to not discuss
4. To cancel a debt, to remit
5. To go away leaving something behind
6. Unconditional in it’s motive
7. A pro-active choice; not just a reactive choice

B. What Forgiveness Isn’t

1. To forget about something, hence, not feel it any longer
2. Not just words said, but an action taken, or not taken
3. Not forced, but is a matter of free will
4. Not waiting for an apology before being willing to forgive
5. Not dependent upon the pain going away
6. Not dependent upon understanding the offense
7. Not dependent upon the offender understanding his offense

II. Jesus’ Willingness To Forgive

A. The Offenses Committed Against Jesus

1. False accusation: pervert– to turn from the right path V. 2a
2. Lies: Jesus did not forbid paying taxes to Caesar V. 2b
3. False accusation: stirs up– to excite, rouse in a negative way V. 5
4. Hated without a reason V. 22
5. Physical brutality, murder V. 33
6. Minimized Jesus while gambling for His clothes V. 34b
7. Sneering: to deride, scoff V. 35
8. Mocking: to play with, to trifle V. 35b-37
9. Blasphemy: to speak reproachfully, to speak evil of V. 39
10. Overall: they didn’t recognize, acknowledge or worship Jesus
11. No respect, no love, no honor, no reverence- all which He deserved

B. Jesus’ Response

1. Jesus was not granting them forgiveness, but prayed to the Father for their forgiveness
2. Jesus was tenderhearted to the repentant sinner V. 43
3. Jesus not caught up in the injustice against Him
4. Jesus recognizes their blindness re. their offense: they do not know what they do
5. Jesus prays according to that understanding
6. Jesus presents them to the Father in the best way possible
7. Jesus does not wait for them to recognize their sin; he loved them anyway
8. No guarantee that they would some day receive Him; He loved them anyway
9. He does not excuse their sin, but prays for their forgiveness
10. He does not wait for an apology; he is pro-active in seeking forgiveness for them
11. He does not prove His case by coming down from the cross V. 35, 36
12. He willingly suffers the wrong for their potential benefit. He dies for their sins
13. His love for them outweighed His hurt from them
14. Jesus loved His enemies
Matthew 5:44-48 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, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
15. Jesus prayed for His enemies
Isaiah 53:12 And made intercession for the transgressors
16. He sought their well-being while they sought His death
17. Jesus deserved their apology, yet He denied Himself that righteous expectation

C. How Important Is Forgiveness To Jesus?

1. It is the reason he came to Earth and died on the cross
2. Important enough for Him to cry out from the cross

a. Consider the physical effort needed to do this
b. He cried out so that we would know the depth of His desire to forgive
c. So that we would see the greatest example of forgiveness known to man

3. Jesus was pro-active in providing and longing for our forgiveness
Romans 5:6, 8, 10 6For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 10For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

a. V. 6 While we were without strength…
b. V. 8 While we were sinners…
c. V. 10 When we were enemies…

III. Forgiveness And Us

A. Roadblocks For Us In Forgiving Others

1. Expecting an apology before having a heart of forgiveness
2. Expecting the offender to see and confess his offense against us
3. Withholding forgiveness until the pain goes away

B. Steps To Take If You Are A Christian

1. Realize Jesus’ heart of forgiveness for you
2. Self examination 1st: Take the log out of your own eye. Matthew 7:3-5

a. Jesus had no sin in Himself to consider
b. We do sin, and need to consider our wrongs before we accuse others

3. Realize the unpayable debt that has been forgiven every Christian. Matthew 18:21-35
4. Have a heart of forgiveness. Pray for it. Confess your need of it.

C. If You’re Not A Christian

1. Romans 10:9-11 if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”