FORGIVENESS

LUK 23:34, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."
At times it is very difficult for us to forgive people, and it is very easy to harbor an unforgiving spirit. However, to be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. Forgiveness means to give up resentment, excuse a guilty party, release from payment, and forget an offense never bringing it up again, not even to discuss it. The ultimate expression of forgiveness is found in our Lord's words, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

The greatest illustration of forgiveness is the Cross itself, where all the personal sins of the human race were imputed to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Lord demonstrates His graciousness in forgiving someone who was guilty in LUK 7:36-50; verse 36 reads, "Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him. And He entered the Pharisee's house, and reclined at the table."
Simon the Pharisee was a user. He wanted to use Jesus to gain power with the crowds following Him. Often these meals were eaten in the courtyard, and when a rabbi was at the meal, people came in to hear his wisdom. When a guest entered such a house, three protocols were always followed. First, the host placed his hands on the guest's shoulder and gave him the kiss of peace as a mark of respect. Secondly, since the roads were dusty and dirty and they wore sandals, their feet became dirty; therefore, water was poured over the guest's feet to cleanse them. Thirdly, a pinch of sweet-smelling incense was burned or a drop of aroma of roses was placed on the guest's head as an anointing. However, none of these were offered to the Lord when He entered. Yet His attitude of grace and restoration was the same toward the Pharisees, the tax collectors, and prostitutes.