“If your brother shall trespass…”

Forgiveness is not passive. It doesn’t empower wrong, nor does it license evil people to continue hurting others or their victims.

It doesn’t prevent justice from taking its full course. Rather, forgiveness releases us from allowing an offender to take more from us, our peace, our sanity, or our joy.

Every offence takes something from us. It could be trust, time, relationships, peace, or even a part of your inner confidence.

But forgiveness stops the inner bleeding. It draws a boundary and says, "You will not take more. Or, “I refuse to become what hurt me.”

Jesus, in Matthew 18:15, said, “If your brother trespasses against you…” Please put a pin on the word 'brother.'

This is important because we often assume that all forgiveness is the same. It’s not.

Jesus is referring to interpersonal relationships, the day-to-day interactions within the family, between husband and wife, siblings, friends, and others. 

In such relationships, offences occur more naturally than intentionally. And because that person is still your brother, the Lord says, Forgive him.

The Lord places the responsibility to forgive on the offended. This may sound backward, doesn’t it? But forgiveness is another way of God saying, “Evil shall never prevail over good.” 

Forgiveness is a way of resisting evil, breaking the cycle of harm, and refusing to let it triumph over righteousness.

For instance, if someone steps on your foot and you feel hurt, there are two basic choices.

You can forgive them and stop the circle of hurt, or retaliate, trying to inflict something worse, and in doing so, you empower the wrong and complete a cycle of harm.

But the moment you forgive, you break the cycle of evil. That’s the power God has placed in forgiveness. 

Never again feel like a victim when you forgive. When Jesus said, “Father, forgive them,” He was, in essence, saying: “I will not let the cycle of cruelty continue through me.”

That’s why it was so easy for the apostles to preach, practice, and walk in forgiveness. They understood that forgiveness is not weakness; it’s spiritual authority. 

Now think of Esau. He never fully forgave his brother Jacob, and that bitterness spilled over into generations.

“Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath forever” (Amos 1:11).

Unforgiveness became generational cruelty. Whenever we forgive, we put an end to evil. That’s why both apologies and forgiveness must be done fully and completely.

Partial forgiveness leaves the door open. Complete forgiveness shuts it and seals it with grace (To be continued).

Reflection Question: What would it look like to forgive fully and completely—not halfway?

SELAH: When tempted to “get even,” remember: retaliation completes the cycle. Forgiveness breaks it.