A happy marriage is a union of two good forgivers. That's what they say. But what does forgiveness really mean?
According to the book Insight on the Scriptures, forgiveness is the act of pardoning an offender; ceasing to feel resentment toward him because of his offense and giving up all claim to recompense. The Hebrew verb sa·lachʹ (forgive) is used only with regard to God’s pardoning a sinner. The Greek term a·phiʹe·mi literally means “let go off.”
Forgiving others for personal offenses, regardless of the number of times involved, is a Christian requirement. Imitate Jehovah in showing compassion. One way to do so is to make it easy for others to seek our forgiveness.
“Pay attention to yourselves. If your brother commits a sin, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. Even if he sins seven times a day against you and he comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” - Luke 17:3, 4
But become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate, freely forgiving one another just as God also by Christ freely forgave you. - Ephesians 4:32
Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely even if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Just as Jehovah freely forgave you, you must also do the same. - Colossians 3:13
God’s forgiveness is NOT extended toward THOSE WHO REFUSE to forgive others.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; whereas if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” - Matthew 6:14, 15
Forgiveness is really a test of humility. As Christians we must humbly "consider others superior"to us, as worthy of our forgiveness. Be quick to extend mercy and slow to take offense.
Do nothing out of contentiousness or out of egotism, but with humility consider others superior to you. - Philippians 2:3
Better is the end of a matter than its beginning. Better to be patient than to be haughty in spirit. Do not be quick to take offense, for the taking of offense lodges in the bosom of fools. - Ecclesiastes 7:8, 9
source: www.jw.org
