CRS

What is Forgiveness? Jesus' teaching on forgiveness

len Alfred Ajibola - 23rd October, 2020 @ 12:37 PM

Topics in CRS

Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Modesty and Continency Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Goodness, Longanimity and Mildness Characteristics of the new life in Christ New Life in Christ Concept of justification by faith The Supremacy of God Supremacy of God Lessons learnt from God's supremacy Jesus as the Living Bread explained Lessons learnt from Jesus' teaching as the Living Bread Why does suffering and pain exist? Forgiveness: Jesus' teaching on forgiveness and its importance What is Forgiveness? Jesus' teaching on forgiveness Jesus' teaching on giving The Prodigal Son, Moral lessons learnt Moral lessons learnt from the parable of the prodigal son Scheme of work, CRS, SS1, 1st Term Scheme of work, CRS, SS1, 2nd Term Scheme of work, CRS, SS1, 3rd Term Biblical account of Creation


Academic Questions in CRS

Please click here to see all Questions and Answers

The feeding of five thousand men with five loaves of bread and two fishes paved way for Jesus' teaching on _____.

  • A. The sermon on the mount

  • B. The living bread

  • C. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving

  • D. The prodigal son

  • E. The good samaritan

  • F. Giving

According to Christianity, Jesus Christ suffered for us all. As a result, Christians do not have to suffer on earth.

  • A. True

  • B. False

In the gospel of Matthew chapter 18 verse 21-35, Jesus tells what story?

  • A. The story of the prodigal son

  • B. The story of the good Samaritan

  • C. The story of the fig tree

  • D. The beatitudes

  • E. The story of the vineyard

  • F. The story of the unforgiving servant

What is Jesus' last word on the cross?

  • A. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing

  • B. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me

  • C. I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise

  • D. I am thirsty

  • E. It is finished

  • F. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit

With regards to giving, Jesus made the statement below:

Do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do this, you will have a reward from your Father in heaven.

  • A. True

  • B. False

At last, he came to his senses and said, 'All my father’s hired workers have more than they can eat, and here am I about to starve! I will get up and go back to my father and say, Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers'. So he got up and started back to his father.

The above statement was made by the prodigal son when he took up a job in a distant country. What job was that?

  • A. Care of cattle

  • B. Care of sheep

  • C. Care of goats

  • D. Care of pigs

  • E. Care of cattle and sheep

  • F. Care of cattle and sheep and goats

The parable of the prodigal son is found in which of the following bible passages?

  • A. Matthew 15: 11-32

  • B. Mark 15: 11-32

  • C. Luke 15: 11-32

  • D. John 15: 11-32

  • E. None of the above

  • F. All of the above

Jesus was born specifically in _____.

  • A. Jerusalem

  • B. Bethlehem

  • C. Nazareth

  • D. Israel

  • E. Capernaum

  • F. Calvary



What is Forgiveness?

Forgiveness is a vital part of christianity. It is a fundamental and practical requirement for our salvation. To this end, Jesus emphasized more on forgiveness and love during his life on earth. Infact, he demonstrated it with his last words and actions on the cross.

Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing.

Luke 23:24

Please read the consequences of Adam and Eve's disobedience here.


Everyone deserves to be forgiven, no matter the magnitude of their offence against us. This may look like a very difficult pill to swallow but in reality, to forgive does not always mean to forget; neither does it imply condoning offenses.

The acts and processes of forgiveness can be tough and difficult but if Jesus, the son of God and our leader can forgive his gruesome crucifiers (and us) on the cross of calvary, how much more we his followers.

The very act of forgiveness is always a conscious and deliberate action. According to psychologists (those who study the mind and behavior), it is defined thus:

Forgiveness is defined as a deliberate and conscious decision of letting go the feelings of vengeance and hate towards a person (or group of persons) that has offended you, no matter the magnitude of their offence and regardless whether they deserve your forgiveness or not.


It is important to state that forgiveness will typically require the offender to show remorse for his or her evil action but sometimes, the offended (for their own good) may be required to forgive, even when the offender becomes too blind to acknowledge their evil acts.

A perfect example of the latter is seen in Jesus' death on the cross. His death pleads mercy and forgiveness for those that had died, those currently living on earth and the unborn generations. In short, Jesus died for us while we were still sinners.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Please read on the biblical account of human disobedience here.


Beginning with the Lord's prayer, Jesus reflected the importance of forgiveness when he said:

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors

Matthew 6:12

In the above line of prayer, we act as both the offender and the offended. This is true because all of us are guilty of sin.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Romans 3:23

Similarly, others would have hurt us at one point in time; and in a sinful way (which makes us the offended). In this light, we are therefore commanded to forgive one another in order to enjoy God's forgiveness. Jesus confirmed this command on forgiveness when he said:

If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done.

Matthew 6:14-15

Note: To forgive those who hurt us isn't an option. It's a command from Jesus himself.

You can read on the morals of the parable of prodigal son here.


Again, Jesus furthered his instructions on forgiveness when he told the story of an unforgiving servant. (Matthew 18:21-35).

  • In his story, the king forgave a servant of his who had no means whatsoever to pay the debt he owed (after he begged for more time in an attempt to pay off all he owed).

  • On his way out, this servant met his fellow servant who owed him something of lesser value (compared to what he owed the king). Although his fellow servant pleaded for more time to pay back while on his knees, he never granted him time nor mercy.

  • His wicked act of unforgiveness got to the king and this made him very furious with the servant he had already forgiven.

  • The king called him a 'wicked servant', and made sure he was justly punished for his actions until he had paid back all he owed.

    You can read on the leadership qualities of Joseph that has transformed lives here.


Apparently, the events that led to the above story was triggered from a question on 'forgiveness'.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times'?

Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven'.

Matthew 18:21-22

From the above conversation, Peter thought he would be very generous with his own kind of forgiveness (that is, to forgive only 7 times). However, Jesus replied - 'Not seven times but seventy times seven'.

Note: By 'seventy times seven', Jesus implied that our acts of forgiveness must be unlimited. Infact this was what prompted him to teach them the magnitude of forgiveness via the story of the unforgiving servant (as summarized above).

Please read on the attributes of God here.


Jesus showed that our action of forgiving others is even greater than our sacrifice. Without mincing words, he said:

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:23-24

Please read on the continuation of this article here alongside the importance of forgiveness.

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Amazing facts in CRS

Salvator Mundi - Len Academy

Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci is the most expensive painting in the world. It is valued at 450.3 Million Dollars.

This painting depict Jesus Christ with his right hand raised in blessing, and his left hand holding an orb

There are a total of 188 named women in the Bible

Mahershalalhashbaz is the longest word in the Bible

The shortest verse of the Bible is John 11:35. It reads:

Jesus wept

 

The longest verse in the bible is Esther 8:9. It reads:

Then were the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language

The last word in the Bible is 'Amen'.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen

Revelation 22:21

The shortest verse in the bible is found in John chapter 11 verse 35. It reads:

Jesus wept

If you translate 'Jesus' from Hebrew directly to English, the correct translation will be 'Joshua'. The name Jesus was actually a translation from Hebrew, to Greek, to Latin and finally, English


Notable points in CRS

The parable of the prodigal son as narrated by Jesus himself is one that shows God's incomprehensible mercy and love. This parable is present in the gospel of Luke 15: 11-32.

Jesus began by saying:

There was once a man who had two sons. The younger one said to him, 'Father, give me my share of the property now'. So the man divided his properties between his two sons.

Luke 15: 11-12

From the above passage, it is quite clear that the younger brother had lost interest in the family's affairs. He must have pondered in his heart the sweetness of complete independence on a life of financial abundance.

To actualize his thoughts, he had the effrontery to go to his father to request for his inheritance even though his father is fully alive and active.

Please read a detailed explanation of the parable of the prodigal son and its moral lessons here

Adam and Eve disobeyed God while in the Garden of Eden. Below are the consequences of Adam and Eve's disobedience:

  • All God's creature became guilty of original sin.

  • Human perfection was lost.

  • God's judgement was pronounced on the snake, woman and man.

  • Chaos and disorderliness came upon earth.

  • Suffering, pain and death was introduced into the world.

  • The first prophesy was made. 

  • Clothing was made.

  • Paradise was temporarily lost.

  • Their disobedience brought about the relevation of Jesus Christ.

  • Please read a detailed explanation on the consequences of Adam and Eve's disobedience here

Wise men from the east came to visit the infant king. Upon their arrival, they saw the child with his mother Mary. They knelt down and worshiped the infant (Jesus).

Notice that the bible recorded that the wise men knelt down and worshipped the infant (Jesus), according to Matthew 2:11.

Only God can be worshiped. Jesus is always God, even as a baby.

It is important to state that Jesus remained God at every point in his physical existence, even when he was in the womb of the virgin; throughout his life on earth, death on the cross and eventual resurrection.

The wise men from the east opened their treasures and presented the infant Jesus with three significant gifts. These are gold, frankincense and myrrh.

  • Gold represents a symbol of Jesus' kingship. Jesus is the King of kings, even at birth and throughout eternity.

  • Frankincense represents a symbol of Jesus' divinity and a sign of worship. Only God can be worshipped; and as such, Jesus is fully God.

  • Myrrh represents a symbol of Jesus' death. Jesus is truly man, and this is why he was able to suffer and die on the cross.

Please read on the early years of Jesus here.

God created human beings for the following reasons:

  1. To know Him

  2. To love Him

  3. To serve Him

  4. To be happy with Him forever

Our first parent, Adam and Eve enjoyed a life of complete happiness before they committed sin. They never knew what pain nor sorrow was until they disobeyed God. In short, both were perfect beings until they committed the sin of disobedience against God.

Disobedience may simple be defined as the failure to obey rules, command or someone in authority.

Adam and Eve were the first human beings to disobey God.

Please read more on the biblical account of first human disobedience here