Suddenly, the man appeared in front of her, hand thrust out. "A fine message! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea!" Corrie ten Boom, holocaust survivor and noted author and speaker, stood face to face, eyeball to eyeball, with one of her captors for the very first time since her release. In her book, I’m Still Learning to Forgive, Corrie relates this heart-wrenching encounter. While speaking on forgiveness in a Munich church in 1947, she was shocked to see standing in the back of the room a guard from the Nazi concentration camp at Ravensbruck where Corrie and her sister Betsie had been sent. They had been arrested for concealing Jews in their home during the Nazi occupation of Holland. Betsie had died a slow and painful death at the hands of this very man.   

The man identified himself as a former guard from Ravensbruck, who had become a Christian. Although he knew that God had forgiven him for the cruel things he had done there, he wanted to hear it from her lips as well. Again, his hand came out and the question was posed: "will you forgive me?" Corrie relates that it was the hardest thing she had ever been asked to do. But she knew she must forgive. She had explained in her speech that forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. "I forgive you, brother!" she cried. "With all my heart!" And so the former guard and former prisoner were reconciled.

When we dissect the word forgive, we discover its purpose, forgiveness is intended for giving. If there is one gift that God has given us that must be shared and not hoarded, it is the gift of forgiveness. If we fail to use it, we lose it. If we fail to offer it to others, we negate or lose the forgiveness God has provisionally offered us. Lord Herbert, 17th century devotional poet wrote, "He who cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass."

In the Lord’s model prayer, Jesus directs us to petition him to forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  After finishing the instructions for prayer, Jesus adds a P.S. to his message. “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15). In essence Jesus was establishing the principle that our forgiveness is conditional – that is, He will continue to forgive only as long as we keep forgiving others.

To err is human, to forgive is divine! How true, since it is not human nature to forgive. It is divine, originating in God himself. Forgiving is me giving up the right to hurt you because you hurt me. Surprising as it may seem, we who God has forgiven so much often struggle to forgive others of lesser trespasses. Jesus said “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required” (Luke 12:48).

The only thing that hinders God from forgiving us is our refusal to first forgive others. When we withhold our forgiveness from one another it forces God to withhold His forgiveness from us. How many bloody wars have been fought because someone refused to give forgiveness? Civil wars, revolutionary wars, family wars, people murdered, marriages wrecked, homes destroyed, churches split, lives trashed, reputations ruined – all because someone refused to give forgiveness. It should come as no surprise that most crimes are the result of selfish unforgiveness. What tragic circumstances could be avoided simply by giving the gift of forgiveness.

Jesus speaks volumes on this powerful principle when he said: “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:36-38). Certainly it is no coincidence that Jesus speaks of forgiving in order to be forgiven immediately prior to his discourse on giving and receiving. Although we often only apply the giving and receiving concept to finances, obviously the application to forgiveness is appropriate. Give forgiveness and forgiveness shall be given you. Withhold forgiveness and forgiveness shall be withheld from you. The principle of sowing and reaping serves as the foundation of forgiveness.

Jesus’ most revealing illustration of this concept of forgiveness is found in the parable of the unmerciful servant. The parable is so vivid it requires no explanation. "The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market. The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt. The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!' The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king. The king summoned the man and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?' The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy” (Matthew 18:23-35 THE MESSAGE). The message is clear: forgiveness is a two-way street – in order to receive it, you must give it.

Forgiveness results in great reconciliation and revival, as this gift breaks down walls and allows wells of refreshing to overflow. No characteristic identifies us more with Jesus Christ than demonstrating a forgiving spirit. Sinners judge believers more by their willingness to forgive than any other characteristic.

We who have been forgiven so much must be quick to forgive others. Corrie ten Boom exhibited this divine grace by forgiving the cruel captor from the concentration camp. The gift of forgiveness was meant to be freely given. It is the gift that keeps on giving. Forgiveness is for giving, so give the gift of forgiveness today!