Matthew 5:21-22b…23-24 — (Jesus said), “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment… 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.”
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Retold from “The Deacon and My Uncle” by Glen Stone in Lutheran Forum magazine.
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This story took place several decades ago in Denmark. Glen Stone’s Uncle Soren was an outgoing, friendly, and jolly man, but not at all religious. His neighbor was a deacon in the village church, and was in every way the opposite of Soren. The deacon was a stern and harsh man, not friendly, and not likable at all. But no one could doubt that he was deeply religious.
Soren and the deacon were neighbors. One day they got into a quarrel about the property line. They argued frequently over it, speaking many unkind things to each other, and threatening legal action. Finally, they quit talking to each other at all.
This continued for many months. Every Sunday, the sour faced deacon would trudge by Soren’s house on his way to church. Every Sunday, Soren would sit at home, watching the deacon go by and laughing to himself about what a useless thing Christianity must be to produce such a crabby hypocrite.
In Lutheran churches in Denmark at that time it was customary to go to communion only once a year, on Maundy Thursday. On Wednesday evening of that week, the deacon came to Soren’s door, humbly asking if he could come in for a talk. Soren couldn’t believe what he was seeing and stood there speechless for a moment. Finally, with a bit of effort, he invited the deacon in and offered him a chair.
The deacon told Soren that the next day there would be Holy Communion at the church, and it was his duty as a Christian and a deacon to faithfully receive the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The deacon went on to tell Soren that the Bible commands that if there is any trouble between you and your neighbor, you should first be reconciled before you come to the altar. “Therefore,” said the deacon, “it would be against my conscience to go to Holy Communion with the hatred for you that I have in my heart. So, I am here to tell you that you can have the property line as you claim it should be, and there will be no more trouble from me about it and no more bitterness in my heart toward you.”
That brief word of reconciliation was all that was necessary. The two men shook hands and were friends from that day on for the rest of their lives. Not only that, but Soren said afterwards, “If that is what the Christian faith can do for a man, it is not to be ridiculed.” True to his word, no more did Soren make fun of the church and all its hypocrites. Rather, in time, he received Jesus as his Savior, joined the deacon’s church, and died a believing man.
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Dear God, I have been wronged by my neighbor. I did not deserve this of him. But I must remember and consider how I stand with you. Before you, I find a long account against me which convinces me that I have sinned a thousand times more against you, than my neighbor has done to me. Therefore, I must do as you say, by sincerely praying, “O Lord, forgive, and I will also forgive.” Amen.
–Martin Luther
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A FEW OF THE MANY BIBLE VERSES ON THE COMMAND THAT WE FORGIVE OTHERS:
Mark 11:25 — (Jesus said), “When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Matthew 6:12, 14, 15 — Jesus said, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us… For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Colossians 3:13 — Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Luke 6:37 — Jesus said, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Luke 17:3-4 — Jesus said, “Watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
James 5:9 — Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
Ephesians 4:26-27, 31-32 — In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold… Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Romans 12:17-21 — Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Galatians 5:15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Hebrews 10:30-31 — For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
A POWERFUL STORY:
Matthew 18:21-35– Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. The kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
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