Forgive Them Too??Sample

We often think about forgiving those who have hurt us, but what about the people who have hurt someone we love? The friend who betrayed your child, the leader who wounded your spouse. That kind of unforgiveness is sneaky. It isn't personal, but it is just as dangerous.

Jesus forgave those who hurt Him when He said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." But have you ever considered that the disciples also had to forgive the very people who had crucified the One they loved? Peter had to forgive the servant who struck Jesus. The early church had to forgive the Roman guards who publicly humiliated their Messiah right in front of them.

And yet they kept going. They didn't carry bitterness into their calling.

Hidden unforgiveness is still unforgiveness. It doesn't just weigh us down when it's about us. It also appears when we feel offended on someone else's behalf. And while we may call it protection or loyalty, it is, in fact, bondage.

In Matthew 6:15, Jesus tells us, "If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." This isn't limited to our direct offenses. It includes the ones we nurse quietly in defense of others.

The unforgiveness you carry for someone else might be keeping you from experiencing the fullness of God's grace in your own life. It might be creating a barrier between you and the Lord that you didn't even recognize was there. When we carry offense for others, we are often blind to how it affects our own spiritual journey.

Moving from unforgiveness to forgiveness is a conscious choice and effort. While holding onto hurt acknowledges the pain, forgiveness acts on healing, even when emotions suggest otherwise. This transition doesn't happen automatically; it develops as we intentionally engage with God's Word and choose to trust His justice daily, especially when the situation doesn't make sense.

Pause and Ponder: In what area of your life are you currently living with hidden unforgiveness rather than active forgiveness? What would taking a step from holding that offense to releasing it look like?