How easy is that to shift the blame or responsibility, in a twisted sort of way. ? Again and again Jesus tells us to forgive, and if we don't, by the way, we can't be forgiven ourselves. Oh, how bad do I want that not to be literally true!
Before Jesus died, he often used the phrase, "or my Father in heaven won't forgive you."
Matthew 6:15
But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Try not to look now, but Jesus said that right after, and within the same breath of telling people how their prayers should look. Now called the Lord's Prayer, but really should be called Our Prayer.
Even while a representative segment of the world's population, lead by His Chosen people, beat, maimed and crucified Him. He still wouldn't let up on this topic.
Jesus said(while hanging from a cross), "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.-Luke 23:34
He found this as easy as breathing, for even after He had died and His closest friends were cowering in fear, He shows up, walking through the walls no less, and breathes on them.
He tells them to receive the Holy Spirit, but then still not letting up on the forgiveness thing, tells them to forgive and if they don't nobody gets forgiven.
Within the same BREATH He told them,
"If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. "John 20:23
So whether dead, alive, risen or dead we are to forgive and it's to be as easy and common as breathing.
Lord help us All!
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