# Forgiveness and Bitterness Bible Study --- ## Background - [[Name_Key#^nk-36|F]] came across an article that generated a conversation and then I decided to do a study on the subject. - Here's info on her original question - [http://arielb.org/archives/915](http://arielb.org/archives/915) {Note: This article is now only available on the way-back} - Question 25: Many teachers assert that forgiveness is a unilateral obligation on the part of the believer whether the offender asks forgiveness or not. Do you agree with this position? - 01 Answer: If a brother sins against us, the willingness to forgive must always be there. There can also not be any feelings of animosity toward the sinner. However, while Yeshua clearly said that if someone seeks our forgiveness, we must grant it, He did not instruct that we grant something that is not requested. Therefore, we may choose to extend forgiveness to the individual, but we are not obliged to do so until he requests it. --- ## Questions - Do we have to forgive someone who is not repentant? - What does mercy have to do with this subject? See [[Mercy_Bible_Study.odt]] - Is there a connection between bitterness and forgiveness? - Did the concept of forgiveness change as a result of the Cross, or is it the same for all time? - What does “just as in Christ God forgave you” [[Ephesians_04|Ephesians 4.32]] mean? - Is forgiveness from God conditional on our confession?  See [[Confess_Sins_Bible_Study.odt]] - Is it necessary to say the words, "please forgive me" in order to receive forgiveness? --- ## ToDo - Transfer info from [[Forgiveness_and_Bitterness_Bible_Study.odt]] - Research [[G5483]] or [[H5483]]?? - Compare with these other studies - [[Grace_Bible_Study.odt]] and [[Grace_Takeaways.odt]] --- ## Takeaways - There seems to be a mercy angle to the forgiveness subject - Even though God forgives, He exacts punishment [Numbers 14.17-19] - If I have hurt someone, I need to drop everything and go and be reconciled [Matthew 5.23-24] - Jesus taught the disciples to ask the Father for forgiveness [Matthew 6.12, Luke 11.4] - We are asking the Father to forgive us like we forgive others. [Matthew 6.13, Luke 11.4] - Paul preached that we should forgive as God forgave us [Ephesians 4.32, Colossians 3.13] - If we DO forgive others, God will forgive us. If we DON'T forgive others, God won’t forgive us [Matthew 6.14-15, Mark 11.25] - When confronting someone who has sinned against me, the Biblical desired response according to Jesus / Matthew is for them to “listen” [Matthew 18.15, 16, 17] - We are to forgive without limit [Matthew 18.22, Colossians 3.13] - There is a connection between answered prayer and forgiving others [Mark 11.22-25] - Jesus forgave based on faith [Luke 5.20, Luke 7.50] - Jesus had / has the authority to forgive sins on earth [Luke 5.23-25] - ?? Jesus implied we should forgive without any conditions [Luke 7.41-42] ?? - Those who are forgiven much love much [Luke 7.44-48] - Actions speak louder than words when it comes to repentance [Luke 7.44-47] - Peter exhorted Simon to ask the Lord for forgiveness [Acts 8.22-23] - With God, there is a connection between forgetting our sins and forgiving our sins. [Hebrews 10.17-18] - If we confess our sins, God will forgive us. [1 John 1.9] - From the Prayer Bible Study Takeaways - Matthew 6.12 talks about debts ([[G3783]]) and debtors ([[G3781]]). Then in Matthew 6.14 Jesus switches to trespasses ([[G3900]]). The two Greek words for debt do in fact refer to something that is owed. Whereas the Greek for trespass ([[G3900]]) refers to a false step or sin. I think Jesus is talking about the debt of sin in [[Matthew_06|Matthew 6.12]]. This is powerful! I think we typically feel in our hearts that the person that hurt us, now owes us something, at the very least an apology. However, this verse starts by asking God to forgive our debts (presumably against Him) like we have forgiven the debts of those who owe us. It is possible debts here could be financial debts as well as sins. But it is clear in **verses 14-15** that Jesus is talking about sins in those verses. BTW, I missed this point in my Forgiveness & Bitterness Bible Study. [Matthew 6.12-15] - Jesus taught that if we don't forgive others, then our Heavenly Father won't forgive us. When we fail to forgive someone, we are holding a lien on their lives. Our sin creates a lien on our soul. The only way to "pay-off" that lien is by receiving Jesus' forgiveness and trusting Him with our lives. This seems to be one of those divine tensions. [Matthew 6.12-15] - --- ## Notes --- - [[Exodus_20|Exodus 20]] - Date - {5-7} --- - [[Exodus_32|Exodus 32]] - Date - {32} --- - [[Exodus_34|Exodus 34]] - Date - {7-9} --- - [[Leviticus_26|Leviticus 26]] - Date - If they confess {40-42} --- - [[Numbers_14|Numbers 14]] - 2017.10.18 - As Moses pled for the Israelites, God did forgive them, but His punishment included all those who were 20 years old and older were not allowed to enter the promised land (except Caleb and Joshua) [18] - Moses was the mediator between God and the Israelites - Moses said that God would punish the third and fourth generations. However, He only punished the actual adult generation that rebelled. - There is no evidence the people repented before God forgave them - Forgiving [18] = [[H5375]] - no·se - Pardon [19] = [[H5545]] - se·lach- - Forgiven [19] = [[H5375]] - na·sa·tah --- - [[Deuteronomy_05|Deuteronomy 5]] - Date - {9-10} --- - [[Deuteronomy_07|Deuteronomy 7]] - Date - {9-10} --- - [[Deuteronomy_29|Deuteronomy 29]] - Date - Root bearing poisonous fruit {18-20} --- - [[1_Samuel_30|1 Samuel 30]] - Date - David’s men were bitter in spirit {1-6} - ?? ([[H4784]]) --- - [[2_Samuel_12|2 Samuel 12]] - 2017.10.19 - There was punishment meted out to David that included: - The sword won’t depart from his house [10] - Wives will be given to neighbor (actually David’s son) [11] - Bathsheba’s first son dies [14] - David confessed & repented [13] - God took away his sin [13] - Put away [13] = [[H5674a]]; to pass over, through, or by, pass on --- - [[1_Kings_02|1 Kings 2]] ^fab-11-02 - Date - David kept a record of wrongs and instructed Solomon to kill those that had hurt him. {5-9} --- - [[1_Kings_08|1 Kings 8]] - Date - {30-34} --- - [[Job_33|Job 33]] - Date - If any say, I have sinned {27-28} --- - [[Psalm_010|Psalm 10]] - Date ^fab-19-10 - {7} --- - [[Psalm_025|Psalm 25]] - Date - {11, 18} --- - [[Psalm_032|Psalm 32]] - Date - I acknowledge my sin {1-5} --- - [[Psalm_078|Psalm 78]] - 2017.10.18 - God was merciful and forgave {38} - Merciful = [[H7349]] (compassionate) - Forgave = [[H3722a]] --- - [[Psalm_085|Psalm 85]] - Date - God forgave the iniquity of His people {2-3} --- - [[Psalm_086|Psalm 86]] - Date - God is ready to forgive {5, 15} --- - [[Psalm_099|Psalm 99]] - Date - God is a forgiving God {8} --- - [[Psalm_103|Psalm 103]] - Date - {3} --- - [[Psalm_145|Psalm 145]] - Date - {8} --- - [[Proverbs_28|Proverbs 28]] - Date - Whoever confesses {13} --- - [[Isaiah_38|Isaiah 38]] - Date - Great bitterness {17} --- - [[Jeremiah_03|Jeremiah 3]] - Date - Only acknowledge your iniquity {13} --- - [[Ezekiel_16|Ezekiel 16]] - Date - {63} --- - [[Daniel_09|Daniel 9]] - Date - {19} --- - [[Micah_07|Micah 7]] - Date - {18} --- - [[Matthew_03|Matthew 3]] - Date - Confessing their sins {6} --- - [[Matthew_05|Matthew 5]] - Date - Blessed are the merciful {7} - Love enemies {44-45} - 2017.11.04 - If I recall that I have hurt another brother, I need to drop everything and go to him and be reconciled. {23-24} - Compare with **Mark 11.25** {23-24} --- - [[Matthew_06|Matthew 6]] - 2017.10.18 & 2017.11.04 - Jesus taught the disciples to ask the Father for forgiveness. [12] - We are asking the Father to forgive us like we forgive others. [12] - Jesus is pretty clear that if we don’t forgive men their trespasses, our Heavenly Father won’t forgive us. [15] - Forgive [12] -- [[G0863]] -aphes - Forgiven [12] -- [[G0863]] - aphēkamen - Forgive [14-1st] -- [[G0863]] - aphēte - Forgive [14-2nd] -- [[G0863]] - aphēsei - Forgive [15-1st] -- [[G0863]] -aphēte - Forgive [15-2nd] -- [[G0863]] - aphēsei --- - [[Matthew_07|Matthew 7]] - Date - {1-2} --- - [[Matthew_09|Matthew 9]] - 2018.01.28 - Jesus healed and forgave a paralytic [2, 5] - Jesus confronted the scribes about His authority to forgive sins - Forgiven [2, 5] -- [[G0863]] - Sins [2, 5] -- [[G0266]] - Authority [6, 8] -- [[G1849]] --- - [[Matthew_18|Matthew 18]] - 2017.10.18, 2017.11.04 & 2018.01.28 {15-20} - Jesus established a process for conflict resolution and “church discipline” {15-20} - Assuming steps one, two and three are properly obeyed, what does it look like to treat the person as a pagan or tax collector? [15-17] - The desired response from the accused is to “listen” [15, 16, 17-x2] - This particular passage doesn't’ say anything about “forgiveness” {15-20} - However, based on Peter’s question in the verse 21, it would seem that Peter made the connection. - Listen [15, 16] -- [[G0191]] - Refuses to listen {17-x2} -- [[G3878]] - 2017.10.18 & 2017.11.04 {21-35} - This story is book-ended with a question about forgiveness and a definitive statement from Jesus about forgiveness. [21, 35] - We are to forgive seventy-seven time (probably an idiom for no limit) [22] - However, there are a few observations: - The servant who owed the large debt begged for more time to pay back the debt [27] - The master had compassion on him and forgave the debt [27] - The servant who owed a small debt also begged for more time [29] - The debt collector refused mercy [30] - The master confronted him on his lack of mercy [33] - In this story, there seems to be a theme of mercy in the heart of it. - Forgive [21] -- [[G0863]] - aphēsō - Forgave [27] -- [[G0863]] - aphēken - Forgave [32] -- [[G0863]] - aphēka - Mercy [33] -- [[G1653]] - Forgave [35] ([[G0863]]) aphēte --- - [[Matthew_26|Matthew 26]] - Date - Peter wept bitterly {75} - 2018.06.11 - The wine represented Jesus’ blood which formed a new covenant of forgiveness of sins [28] - Forgiveness [28] ([[G0859]]) --- - [[Matthew_27|Matthew 27]] - Date ^fab-40-27 - {34} --- - [[Mark_01|Mark 1]] - 2018.06.11 - John preached a “baptism of repentance” for forgiveness [4] - Forgiveness [4] ([[G0859]]) --- - [[Mark_02|Mark 2]] - Date - Jesus forgave a paralytic {5-9} --- - [[Mark_03|Mark 3]] - ([[G0859]]) {29} --- - [[Mark_11|Mark 11]] - But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses. (Added by BYZ and TR) {26} - 2017.10.25 & 2017.11.04 - Although the context is the withered tree, Jesus adds verse 25 about forgiving others when praying. [25] - Jesus made no mention about the repentance of others prior to forgiving. Rather, He said that if I hold something against someone, I need to forgive it so Father will forgive me. [25] - Since Jesus connected forgiveness with answered prayer for really big stuff, it would seem that He is connecting the two. [22-25] - Prayer [24] ([[G4336]]) - Pray [25]] ([[G4336]]) - Forgive [25-1st] ([[G0863]]) aphiete - Forgive [25-2nd] ([[G0863]]) aphē - Forgive [26-1st] ([[G0863]]) aphiete - Will forgive [26-2nd] ([[G0863]]) aphēsei --- - [[Luke_01|Luke 1]] - Date - ([[G0859]]) {77} --- - [[Luke_03|Luke 3]] - Date - ([[G0859]]) {3} --- - [[Luke_04|Luke 4]] - Date - ([[G0859]]) {18-x2} --- - [[Luke_05|Luke 5]] - 2017.11.04 - Jesus forgave based on faith [20] - The Pharisees believed that only God could forgive sins. [21] - Jesus had / has authority to forgive sins on earth [23-25] - Forgiven [20, 23] ([[G0863]]) apheōntai - Forgive [21, 24] ([[G0863]]) apheinai --- - [[Luke_06|Luke 6]] - Date - Don’t judge {37-38} - Compare with [[1508358565_Forgiveness_and_Bitterness_Study#^fab-46-05|1 Corinthians 5.12]] {37} --- - [[Luke_07|Luke 7]] - 2017.11.04 - In the story Jesus told to Simon, the moneylender forgave the debt without any conditions. [41-42] - Simon judged correctly that the debtor who owed the most would love the moneylender the most. [43] - Although the woman didn’t verbalize a request for forgiveness, she demonstrated it by “loving much”. [44-47] - Although Jesus didn’t pronounce “Your sins are forgiven” until after the woman showed her love, Jesus said she loved Him much because of her actions. [44-48] - In the end, Jesus said it was the woman’s faith that saved her. [50] - Forgave [42] = [5483](#wtdn0fyz1158) - Forgiven [43] = [5483](#wtdn0fyz1158) - Forgiven [47-x2, 48] ([[G0863]]) - Forgives [49] ([[G0863]]) --- - [[Luke_11|Luke 11]] - Date - They opposed Him bitterly {53} - 2017.11.04 - Jesus taught His disciples to ask the Father for forgiveness [4] - He also included the need for us to forgive those who sin against us. [4] - Forgive [4-1st] ([[G0863]]) aphes - Forgive [4-2nd] ([[G0863]]) aphiomen --- - [[Luke_17|Luke 17]] - Date - 70 * 7 {4} --- - [[Luke_22|Luke 22]] - Date - He went outside and wept bitterly {62} --- - [[Luke_24|Luke 24]] - Date - ([[G0859]]) {47} --- - [[Acts_02|Acts 2]] - Date - ([[G0859]]) {38} --- - [[Acts_05|Acts 5]] - - Date - ([[G0859]]) {31} --- - [[Acts_08|Acts 8]] - 2024.02.04 {22} - There is nothing in the passage that says Simon needs to say the words "please forgive me" when praying to God - Peter does exhort Simon to: - repent - pray to the Lord - Based on [[1_John_01||1 John 1.9]], the "pray to the Lord" seems about confession rather than some sort of rote "please forgive me" magic words - 2017.10.25 ^fab-44-08 - Peter exhorted Simon to repent and pray to the Lord asking for forgiveness for the intent of his heart that was poisoned by bitterness. [22-23] - Forgive [22] ([[G0863]]) aphethēsetai - Poisoned [23] = [[G5521]]; gall, bitter herbs; see also [[1508358565_Forgiveness_and_Bitterness_Study#^fab-40-27|Matthew 27.34]] - Bitterness [23] = [[G4088]] - Some date prior to 2017.10.25 I wrote the following: - Having a heart that is not right before God can inhibit ministry. Characteristics are bitterness and being captive to sin. {23} --- - [[Acts_10|Acts 10]] - Date - ([[G0859]]) {43} --- - [[Acts_13|Acts 13]] - Date - ([[G0859]]) {38} --- - [[Acts_26|Acts 26]] - Date - ([[G0859]]) {18} --- - [[Romans_03|Romans 3]] - Date - {24-26} - 2017.10.25 - In **Romans 3.14**, Paul is quoting from [[1508358565_Forgiveness_and_Bitterness_Study#^fab-19-10|Psalm 10.7]]. Most of the OT translations translate ([[H4820]]) as Lies or deceit or treachery. It is interesting that the NT translations mostly use bitterness. {14} - The quoted Psalm says that their mouths are full of deceit/ bitterness. Most of the NT usually talks more about the heart. For example, [[1508358565_Forgiveness_and_Bitterness_Study#^fab-44-08|Acts 8.22]]. {14} - Bitterness [14] = [[G4088]] --- - [[Romans_04|Romans 4]] - Date - {7} --- - [[Romans_05|Romans 5]] - 2018.06.11 - Although the context is clearly the reconciliation between man and God, a case could be built that Jesus modeled “dying to self” in order to reconcile the world to God. Therefore, we should follow His example. This is especially true as we work to do our part in being an ambassador for Christ. However, it is possible it could extend to reconciliation between men. [10] - Reconciled [10-x2] = [[G2644]] - Reconciliation [11] = [[G2643]] --- - [[Romans_11|Romans 11]] - Date - [15] = [[G2643]] --- [[1_Corinthians_05|1 Corinthians 5]] - Date ^fab-46-05 - {12} --- - [[1_Corinthians_07|1 Corinthians 7]] - Date - [11] ([[G2644]]) --- - [[1_Corinthians_13|1 Corinthians 13]] - 2018.06.11 - Love doesn't keep a record of wrongs. However, Compare with [[1508358565_Forgiveness_and_Bitterness_Study#^fab-11-02|1 Kings 2.5-9]] where [[David]] instructed [[Solomon]] to deal with those who had hurt him. [5] --- - [[2_Corinthians_02|2 Corinthians 2]] - Date - {7-10} --- - [[2_Corinthians_05|2 Corinthians 5]] - 2018.06.11 - Based on the context, I think all of this “reconciliation” is between God and man. [18-19] - God gave us the ministry of reconciliation [18] - God committed to us the message of reconciliation [19] - We are ambassadors for Christ imploring others to be reconciled to God [20] - Is there a Biblical basis for expanding, our “ministry” of reconciliation to include the relationships between men and between men and creation? [18] - Reconciled (-ing) [18, 19, 20] = [[G2644]] - Reconciliation [18, 19] = [[G2643]] - Ambassadors [20] = [[G4243]] --- - [[Ephesians_01|Ephesians 1]] - Date - ([[G0859]]) {7} --- - [[Ephesians_04|Ephesians 4]] - 2017.10.25 - We are to get rid of all bitterness [31] - We are to forgive as God forgives us in Christ [32] - I’m not exactly sure what it looks like to forgive as God forgives us in Christ. - Bitterness [31] = [[G4088]] - Forgiving [32] = [[G5483]] - charizomenoi - Forgave [32] = [[G5483]] - echarisato --- - [[Colossians_01|Colossians 1]] - Date - ([[G0859]]) {14} --- - [[Colossians_03|Colossians 3]] - Date - Love your wives and do not be embittered against them {19} - 2017.11.04 - I am to forgive any complain I have against another. [13] - I am to forgive as Jesus forgave me [13] - Forgive [13-1st, 13-3rd] = [[G5483]] - Forgive [13-2nd] = [[NIG]] --- - [[2_Timothy_02|2 Timothy 2]] - Date - Grant repentance {25} --- - [[Hebrews_09|Hebrews 9]] - Date - ([[G0859]]) {22} --- - [[Hebrews_10|Hebrews 10]] - 2017.11.04 - **Verse 14** opens the possibility that not everyone is sanctified [14] - Is “forgetting / ‘remember no more’” and “forgiving” the same? - Remember [17] ([[G3403]]); remember, call to mind, recall, mention; actively remember, not merely incidentally - Forgiven [18]([[G0859]]) ([[G0859]]) --- - [[Hebrews_12|Hebrews 12]] - 2017.10.25 - What does it mean to “fall short of the grace of God”? [15] - What is the connection between “fall short of the grace of God” and a “root of bitterness”? {14} - The writer characterizes the problem as a “root” [15] - Grace [15] = [[G5485]] - Root [15] = [[G4491]] - Bitterness [15] = [[[G4088]]] - Some prior date - We must make efforts to live in peace. [14] - We must ensure that no bitter root grows up [15] --- - [[James_02|James 2]] - Date - Judgement without mercy {13} --- - [[James_03|James 3]] - 2018.06.11 - James is addressing what and how we say things {9-12} - He compares “blessing” and “cursing” that comes from our tongue with “freshwater” and “bitter water” coming from the same spring [10-11] - Bitter [11] ([[G4089]]) - Two occurrences; see also **James 3.14** - bitter, acrid, malignant. - 2018.01.28 - Although forgiveness isn’t mentioned in this passage, “bitter jealousy” would seem to be the opposite. [14] - Furthermore, “peacemakers” would seem to be those who foster forgiveness [18] - Bitter [14] = [[G4089]] - Two occurrences; see also **James 3.11** - bitter, acrid, malignant. - Peaceable [17] = [[G1516]] - Peacemaker [18] = [[G4160]] + [[G1515]] --- - [[James_04|James 4]] - Date - {8} --- - [[James_05|James 5]] - Date - Confess your faults {16} --- - [[1_John_01|1 John 1]] - 2017.10.25 - If we confess our sins, God will forgive us. This is one of the few in the NT that I can find the puts a condition on the forgiveness. [9] - Confess [9] = [[G3670]] - Forgive [9] ([[G0863]]) aphē --- - [[1_John_02|1 John 2]] - Date - {12} --- - [[Revelation_05|Revelation 5]] - Date - I began weeping bitterly {4} --- - [[Revelation_08|Revelation 8]] - Date - wormwood {11} --- - [[Revelation_10|Revelation 10]] - Date - Eating the scroll will make your stomach bitter {9-10} ---