Luke 23:34 (NRSVCE)
“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing.”
Today’s verse will lead us to a deeper understanding on why we should seek to forgive and be forgiven. But we should first really grasp the essence of what forgiveness that GOD requires us to do. This forgiveness is more than canceling debt or excusing someone who is wrong or tolerating others to do us wrong. It is far beyond getting even like ‘eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth’. God’s intent for forgiveness is for purification. He wants His people to be holy because He is Holy (Lev. 20:26) before bestowing His promise to His people, and is not just given without a sacrifice. In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything is not forgiven without sacrifice; without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness (Heb. 9:22). Therefore, forgiveness once obtained, purification is achieved and then destined to claim His promise. The process: forgiveness to holiness to promise of GOD.
Besides shedding of blood, another way to obtain forgiveness is through the intercession of the anointed ones by GOD. Abraham asked forgiveness of sins of Sodom from GOD through the ten(down to) righteous present there (Gen. 18:32). We remember Jacob asked Joseph forgiveness for his brothers (Gen. 50:17). Those stories of forgiveness were allowed by GOD to happen for the concept of acquiring the promise land. Joseph, having been anointed was so aware of this. He said in Genesis 50:24 to his brothers, “I am about to die; but God will surely come to you, and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” This followed after his forgiveness of his brothers.
In our time, GOD concept of forgiveness is the same; forgiveness to holiness to promise of GOD. Like before, we should also have to offer sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. Since it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Heb. 10:4), GOD provided us the ultimate offering; not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own Son’s blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12). For GOD to make eternal absolution for us, a great sacrifice has to be offered and it is Jesus, being the anointed one, interceded for all of us (Luke 23:34).
Like in the Old Testament, we too have our sacrificing lamb for the forgiveness of our sins (1Cor. 5:7), and He did this once and for all (Heb 7:27). Also, Jesus as the anointed One, served as our mediator who asked our forgiveness from GOD (1Tim. 2:5). Now, if the promise to Israel is the Land of Canaan through Moses, GOD’s promise to us is salvation in the Heavenly Kingdom through Jesus Christ. Luke 1:77 says, “You will tell his people how to find salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.”
We will not obtain salvation if we are not forgiven by GOD. But the precondition is that we must be sure that we had forgiven those who wronged us. Matthew 6:14-15 is clear on this statement, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Salvation, therefore, relies on forgiveness of every sin, both the offender and the offended.
Without the forgiveness of sins, we will not also be able to receive the Holy Spirit (Act 2:38) which is the guarantee of our salvation (Heb. 1:13). It is so important to take note that not all sins are forgiven. Matthew 12:31-32 declares, “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.”
It is also important to keep in mind what John 20:23 is saying, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” In addition, Mark 11:25 says, “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” All those verses mentioned clearly indicate that forgiveness is not only for the sake of keeping the peace or doing a favor for others. The main reasons of forgiving are to attain salvation for ourselves and for others as well.
How then we forgive? Jesus says in Matthew 5:23-24, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” Jesus also further that we have to forgive seventy times seven, meaning many times as many (Matt. 18:21-22). In addition to these, our verse today shows us that we must be truly like Jesus who forgave while or in the midst of their sinning, right away! Those are really hard requirements, but to think that the reason of forgiving has to do with our salvation and the salvation of others, we should not have a second thought of forgiving and asking forgiveness. Anyway, at the end, we know that the absolution for others is absolution for ourselves (Matt 7:2). So let’s now repent, then seek to forgive and be forgiven, to claim the promise of Eternal Life through Jesus Christ, our Savior, AMEN.
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