The Two Hearts of Forgiveness

This is interesting...at least to me.

In Matthew6:9-15, Jesus teaches the disciples to pray.  In His model prayer, He teaches us all to request of the Father, "And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors" (NKJ).  Other translations say "our sins as we forgive those who sin against us". 

Jesus then elaborates..."for if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matt 6:14-15)

This discourse is early in Jesus' ministry.  The apostle's to whom He is speaking are relatively "young" insofar as spiritual/Christian maturity goes. 

Later on in His ministry though, in fact, after His resurrection, Jesus makes another statement about forgiveness, this time in John 20:21-23.   Jesus has resurrected and finds the apostles shut up behind closed, locked doors.  He appears to them and says, "Peace be with you" then after showing them His wounds, He says again, "Peace to you. As the Father has sent me, so I am also sending you"...then He breathed on them and said "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (NKJ).  Again, other translations say "if you forgive anyone of their sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven" (NIV).

In Jesus first statement on forgiveness He seems to be appealing to what He know is intrinsically in the heart of man...self interest.  Forgive so you'll be forgiven...it's about you.   Knowing the heart of man is ultimately selfish, the call to forgive aligns with the "what's in it for me?" default that has entrapped mankind since the fall.  And it seems Jesus knows this and meets them there, right where they are.  

In His second statement on forgiveness however, Jesus no longer appeals to the heart of selfish man, but rather, recognizing the power of the resurrection life He has given to those who believe in Him, He appeals to the heart of the Father and makes forgiveness all about the other person.  First, He says..."as the Father has sent me, so I am sending you".  What did the Father send Jesus to do? 

Jesus mission was all about reconciling people back to the Father...He made the way for reconciliation to be possible, for reconciliation to happen.  So, as the Father sent Jesus to make a way for reconciliation and peace, so Jesus is sending "us" to do the same thing.  Hence, He breaths on them, gives them the Holy Spirit to enable it and thusly equipped them.  With the Holy Spirit present in the hearts of the apostles, Jesus knows that He can now appeal to  interest in the other person as a better motivator behind why we forgive.  Forgiveness is no longer about "what's in it for me?" but, is  now about loving and freeing the other.   And we are enabled to do it by the power and love of the Holy Spirit.

Two hearts of forgiveness...both valid, both valuable...the forgiveness that is...but one flowing with Holy Spirit enabled selfless love that releases the other.   

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