FATHER, FORGIVE THEM

Brothers and Sisters. Do you remember who said these words, "Father, forgive them"? Yes, it was Jesus. He asked His Father, Yahweh, to forgive those who prosecuted, persecuted, beat, and hang Him on the cross. What an unbelievable sight to watch. Jesus died as a Martyr to defend us, and to free us from the strong grip of Satan. Jesus was crucified not because of any wrong doing, but because Pilate has surrendered to public pressure to release a prisoner during Passover festival, just as the Christian church has surrendered to the business pressure to abolish all of God's laws and commandments despite what Jesus has said, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one title will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches [them], he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17-20. There is nothing wrong with the law. That’s all I know.
“Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, [that] one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom comes. Your will be done On earth as [it is] in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one." Luke 11:1-4. One of His disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. And He said, “forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” In other words, because we forgive everyone who is indebted to us, we can ask God to also forgive our sin. Why is forgiving those who have offended us important in the eyes of God? I can think because of at least two reasons. First, the reason why we cannot forgive is because we are not happy before we can get even with him or her who has offended us. That, I believe, is the main reason why forgiving is not easy. Forget about getting even. Jesus, a human being, doesn't get even with anybody. And so should we. And the reason why God wants us to forgive, I believe, is because He doesn’t want us to play the devil’s role of accusing our brother or sister that may prevent him or her from receiving God’s grace. We cannot, and should not be a stumbling block to anyone's salvation. That is Satan’s role, not ours.
Jesus said, "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” Matthew 5:39. 
Finally, Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide [is] the gate and broad [is] the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. "Because narrow [is] the gate and difficult [is] the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.
 

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