Faith to Forgive
Forgiveness takes faith, love, and humility
SCRIPTURE:
Luke 17:6 NLT - The Lord answered, "If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it would obey you!
OBSERVATION:
In Luke 17, Jesus takes time to teach His disciples—not the crowds—about faith. The kind of faith He discusses here isn't about getting what we want, but about the faith needed to forgive.
Jesus begins his teaching with a warning about temptation and stumbling blocks. The Greek word is skandalon, which refers to a bent stick that triggers a trap. Sin will always exist, but Jesus cautions us not to be the ones setting the trap that causes others to stumble.
After this, he provides practical steps for forgiveness:
Luke 17:3-4 NLT - So watch yourselves! "If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive."
In love, we are called to confront sin, hoping for repentance and reconciliation. But even if repentance never happens, Jesus tells us to forgive anyway. Conviction and repentance are the work of the Holy Spirit—not ours. Our role is to forgive.
Luke 17:6 NLT - The Lord answered, "If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it would obey you!
OBSERVATION:
In Luke 17, Jesus takes time to teach His disciples—not the crowds—about faith. The kind of faith He discusses here isn't about getting what we want, but about the faith needed to forgive.
Jesus begins his teaching with a warning about temptation and stumbling blocks. The Greek word is skandalon, which refers to a bent stick that triggers a trap. Sin will always exist, but Jesus cautions us not to be the ones setting the trap that causes others to stumble.
After this, he provides practical steps for forgiveness:
Luke 17:3-4 NLT - So watch yourselves! "If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive."
In love, we are called to confront sin, hoping for repentance and reconciliation. But even if repentance never happens, Jesus tells us to forgive anyway. Conviction and repentance are the work of the Holy Spirit—not ours. Our role is to forgive.
Jesus did not intend here to narrow our focus of forgiveness. If anything, His intent was to broaden our work of forgiveness. He wasn’t giving us a reason not to forgive or to be less forgiving. – David Guzik.
No wonder the disciples cried out, “Increase our faith!” They understood how difficult this would be.
This work of pardoning every offence of every man, and that continually, seemed so difficult, even to the disciples themselves, that they saw, without an extraordinary degree of faith, they should never be able to keep this command. – Adam Clark.
The image of the mulberry tree makes this clearer. Its roots were thought to last six hundred years. Likewise, unforgiveness can feel deeply rooted in us. But faith—even small faith in Jesus—can uproot bitterness completely and cast it into the sea. – David Guzik.
The image of the mulberry tree makes this clearer. Its roots were thought to last six hundred years. Likewise, unforgiveness can feel deeply rooted in us. But faith—even small faith in Jesus—can uproot bitterness completely and cast it into the sea. – David Guzik.
APPLICATION:
Jesus concludes this teaching with the parable of the servant. Just as a servant doesn’t expect thanks for simply doing his duty, we are called to forgive because it is our obligation to obey Christ.
Luke 17:9-10 NLT - And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, 'We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.'"
We who have been forgiven much must forgive much. Forgiveness isn’t optional—it’s an act of obedience.
Jesus concludes this teaching with the parable of the servant. Just as a servant doesn’t expect thanks for simply doing his duty, we are called to forgive because it is our obligation to obey Christ.
Luke 17:9-10 NLT - And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, 'We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.'"
We who have been forgiven much must forgive much. Forgiveness isn’t optional—it’s an act of obedience.
Growing saints think themselves nothing; full-grown saints think themselves less than nothing. – Charles Spurgeon.
Forgiveness starts with faith, is deepened through love, and is maintained by humility—remembering who we are: forgiven, yet unworthy servants.
PRAYER:
Jesus, increase my faith to forgive. I know there are areas where I hold onto offense. Remind me that I have been forgiven much and that I must forgive others. Uproot the mulberry trees of bitterness in my life so I can forgive as You have forgiven me.
PRAYER:
Jesus, increase my faith to forgive. I know there are areas where I hold onto offense. Remind me that I have been forgiven much and that I must forgive others. Uproot the mulberry trees of bitterness in my life so I can forgive as You have forgiven me.
Faith uproots bitterness and empowers us to forgive as Christ forgave.
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