Yes, you must forgive everyone, according to the Bible. Why? Well, in the Our Father prayer, we ask God to “forgive us our trespasses AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.” Just imagine standing before Jesus one second after you die and hearing the words, “Good and faithful servant. You forgave that person who attacked you, who stole money from you, who lied to you, who used you. So now, I will forgive you of your sins of pornography, lying, fornication, missing Mass, and so on. Now, enter into the Kingdom prepared for you.”
We need to remember that the sins that our fellow human beings have committed against us as are a day’s wages, while the sins we have committed against God are like a million years of wages. Why? Because sins committed against an almighty infinite God who has given us so many good things are written in eternity. The sins committed by people against us are written in time, which one day will stop. The fact that the one original sin of Adam against God (disobedience to His command) still affects us today is proof enough for me that one sin against God outweighs by far any human sin against another.
Getting rid of our sins, in the sacrament of Confession, is easy and is specifically mentioned by Jesus in John 20:21-23. The healing powers on our mind, psyche, and body of confessing our sins are immense and help us to resist sin the next time we are tempted. Just remember that lack of forgiveness to those who have hurt us is something that should be confessed.
The Bible on Forgiveness
The Holy Word of God, “the Bible,” is abundantly clear on the need for forgiveness. Someone once said that “not forgiving those who have hurt you is like having a rattlesnake bite you and then hoping the other person dies!” Not forgiving the other person doesn’t hurt him or her but instead hurts you and gives the devil a foothold in your life to lead you away from Jesus. Since Jesus personally asked the Father to forgive his torturers and murders, who are we to be unforgiving in light of His holy words? St. Pope John Paul II forgave the Muslim who shot him in Vatican City, so, for sure, we should follow his example.
In Acts 7:59-60, we see the saintly St. Stephen being stoned to death and forgiving his murderers:
And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends upon 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.” No, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
“But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your cloak do not withhold your coat as well. Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again. And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Quotes From the Saints on Forgiveness
“If a man insults me, kills my father, my mother, my brother, and then gouges out my eye, as a Christian it is my duty to forgive him. We who are pious Christians ought to love our enemies and forgive them. We ought to offer them food and drink, and entreat God for their souls. And then we should say: ‘My God, I beseech Thee to forgive me, as I have forgiven my enemies.’” – Saint Kosmas Aitolos
“A soul that is nurtured by hatred toward man can not be at peace with God, Who has said: If you forgive not men their sins, neither shall your Father forgive your sins (Matthew 6:15). If a man does not want to be reconciled, you must at least guard yourself from hating, praying with a pure heart for him, and speaking no evil of him.” – Saint Maximos the Confessor
“Christ prayed for those that crucified Him: ‘Father, count not this sin against them; they know not what they do.’ Archdeacon Stephen prayed for those who stoned him so that the Lord would not judge this sin against them. And so we, if we wish to retain grace, must pray for our enemies. If you do not find pity on a sinner who will suffer in flames, then you do not carry the grace of the Holy Spirit, but rather an evil spirit; and while you yet live, you must free yourself from his clutches through repentance.” – Saint Silouan the Athonite
“Love all your fellow men, even your enemies. This is the most basic thing. Always love not only those who love us, but also those who hate us. Let us forgive them and love them all even if they have done us the greatest evil; then we are truly children of God. Then our own sins are also forgiven.” – Saint George Karslides
“If you have anything against any man, forgive it: you come here to receive forgiveness of sins, and thou also must forgive him that has sinned against you. Else with what face will you say to the Lord, ‘Forgive me my many sins’, if you have not yourself forgiven your fellow-servant even his little sins.” – Saint Cyril of Jerusalem
As it is not to be imagined that the fornicator and the blasphemer can partake of the sacred Table, so it is impossible that he who has an enemy, and bears malice, can enjoy Holy Communion. I forewarn, and testify, and proclaim this with a voice that all may hear! ‘Let no one who has an enemy draw near the sacred Table, or receive the Lord’s Body! Let no one who draws near have an enemy! Do you have an enemy? Do not approach! Do you wish to draw near? Be reconciled, and then draw near, and only then touch the Holy Gifts!’ – St. John Chrysostom
‘And forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors.’ For we have many sins. For we offend both in word and in thought, and very many things we do worthy of condemnation; and ‘if we say that we have no sin’ (1 John 1.8), we lie, as John says. The offenses committed against us are slight and trivial, and easily settled; but those which we have committed against God are great, and need such mercy as is His only. Take heed, therefore, lest for the slight and trivial sins against you, you shut out for yourself forgiveness from God for your very grievous sins. – St. Cyril of Jerusalem
Do we forgive our neighbors their trespasses? God also forgives us in His mercy. Do we refuse to forgive? God, too, will refuse to forgive us. As we treat our neighbours, so also does God treat us. The forgiveness or non-forgiveness, then, of your sins—and hence also your salvation or destruction—depend on you yourself, man. For without forgiveness of sins there is no salvation. You can see for yourself how terrible it is. – St Philotheos of Sinai
The Bottom Line
The bottom line in all of this is that we MUST forgive others who have hurt us, if and only if we want Jesus to forgive us our sins against Him. Our sins are infinitely grievous to Almighty God, to whom we owe our very existence. Look on hurts against us as a test from God to see if we REALLY love Him. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.” One of these is to forgive our enemies, to love them, and to do good to them.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean that we have to pal around with horrible people who have hurt us. Jesus certainly didn’t pal around with Pilate and the Sanhedrin after his crucifixion. But he did pray for them, because they were ignorant of who He really was. We should take exactly the same attitude to those who have hurt us.
St. Maria Goretti forgave her sexual attacker before she died, and that man eventually repented in jail and became a Christian because of her prayers. And that is the goal of life, isn’t it? To drag those who are captives of the devil into the light of Christ and save their souls. The goal of life isn’t to die hating people.
Jesus loves you; but the question is, “Do you love Him?” Then, if you do, FORGIVE!”
3 thoughts on “You Must Forgive Everyone”
Where do laws, police, district attorneys, courts, and prisons fit in to what you have said? I am genuinely puzzled. What about armed forces? Is there no place for justice? I just don’t understand.
To me, it means personally forgiving, from the heart, everyone who has personally sinned against you.
Armed Forces members should pray for their enemies, so maybe they will convert and there will be no war.
There was justice when St. John Paul II’s assassin went to prison. JPII forgave him anyway….
Peace – Ray
God Bless you…