Guard Against Unforgiveness: Luke 17:3-4
“3) Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4) And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”” Luke 17:3-4
Forgiveness and repentance were important themes for Jesus. This teaching on stumbling blocks and forgiveness compares closely to Matthew 18. Luke was most likely summarizing this greater context. These passages should be studied side by side.
The important thing to understand is that unforgiveness gives rise to anger and bitterness. They eat away at the heart and soul of the bitter person. Paul picked up this theme in 2 Corinthians 2 and the end of Ephesians 4.
In both contexts he said that they are part of Satans basic scheme against people and give the devil a foothold in our lives. The only remedy is sincere forgiveness.
We are not to evaluate the other persons sincerity or question why the sin against us so often. Our job is to forgive and guard our own heart. Anger and bitterness are enemies of the soul.
We are to guard one another. It very well might be that anger and unforgiveness are serious stumbling blocks. They block sincere love and grace toward others. They align us against the very people we are to love.
The journey to personal freedom usually includes breaking the chains of anger and bitterness. (See Ephesians 4:31-5:2) These two traps lead you into slavery.
Why Forgive? No one can afford the personal inner cancer of unforgiveness! It will destroy you.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“3) Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4) And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”” Luke 17:3-4
Forgiveness and repentance were important themes for Jesus. This teaching on stumbling blocks and forgiveness compares closely to Matthew 18. Luke was most likely summarizing this greater context. These passages should be studied side by side.
The important thing to understand is that unforgiveness gives rise to anger and bitterness. They eat away at the heart and soul of the bitter person. Paul picked up this theme in 2 Corinthians 2 and the end of Ephesians 4.
In both contexts he said that they are part of Satans basic scheme against people and give the devil a foothold in our lives. The only remedy is sincere forgiveness.
We are not to evaluate the other persons sincerity or question why the sin against us so often. Our job is to forgive and guard our own heart. Anger and bitterness are enemies of the soul.
We are to guard one another. It very well might be that anger and unforgiveness are serious stumbling blocks. They block sincere love and grace toward others. They align us against the very people we are to love.
The journey to personal freedom usually includes breaking the chains of anger and bitterness. (See Ephesians 4:31-5:2) These two traps lead you into slavery.
Why Forgive? No one can afford the personal inner cancer of unforgiveness! It will destroy you.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
