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Presence Weekly 8/12/2024 - Offering Forgiveness

In the public square, offering forgiveness, even when it has not been asked for, relieves us from the burden of plotting our revenge or the demise of the one who hurt us.

Faithful Presence

• 9 min read

First Things

Registration Fall discipleship cohorts is now open! Join us for a 12-week journey towards whole-life discipleship for the public square. Using our newest resource, “1 Peter: Living as Elect-Exiles in the Public Square,” we will explore spiritual, emotional, relational, vocational, ideological, cultural and evangelical formation’s role in living in a posture of faithful presence. Our cohorts start after Labor Day.

The DEVO - Offering Forgiveness

We started our conversation about forgiveness by looking at the part of the Lord’s Prayer which says, “Forgive us our debts (trespasses) as we forgive our debtors (those who have trespassed against us).” Here is the passage in it’s full context: 

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this,

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:7-14 (ESV)

We have already discussed asking forgiveness and receiving forgiveness. Now, it’s time for an aspect of forgiveness that is often the most difficult - offering forgiveness to others. When you add on the section immediately following the prayer, three times as much language is aimed at offering forgiveness, as is asking for or receiving forgiveness. It says, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors…. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 This part can be a bit confusing, because it sounds as if the Father will not forgive us if we do not forgive others. Certainly, it is a stern warning about judgmentalism and hypocrisy. How can someone who has experienced the transforming presence of Christ in their life through forgiveness not extend that offer to others? Jesus used a parable to emphasize this very issue, 

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:23-35 (ESV)

You might notice from the chapter reference that this comes from an extended discussion between Jesus, Peter, and the rest of the disciples about how often we might be expected to offer forgiveness to someone who has wronged us.

Obstacles to Offering Forgiveness

Offering forgiveness is hard. And again, it is our hearts that get in the way. We say, “Don’t worry about it,” because we want to minimize the damage done. We may do this because we value ourselves so little we conclude that hurting us doesn’t matter or to minimize the hurt the other person may be feeling. But when we do that we are actually robbing them of the joy of receiving forgiveness and ourselves of the freedom that comes from extending the grace that has been extended to us, and hearing that we were valuable enough to merit an apology. 

Our hearts have also gotten in the way when we say, “You’re forgiven” in an insincere way because we want to be able to still hold something over them and hold on to our bitterness and pride - making sure that they don’t get to experience the full blessing of restoration. We say, “You’re forgiven” and then keep bringing it up over and over again so we can make sure that they never forget the hurt that they caused us, but also making sure that we also cannot move on from the hurt. 

Here is how we should offer forgiveness: graciously and directly. “Thank you, you are forgiven.” 

It is important to make clear that forgiveness does not mean that there are no consequences. As a result of being sinned against, relationships may need to be recalibrated and new boundaries established. Sometimes for a short time and sometimes for a long time. Forgiveness is not about avoiding consequences but about experiencing and extending the transforming presence of Jesus Christ. Thankfully, the forgiveness that the Father offers us through Jesus offers a reconciliation and restoration far beyond what can ever take place between two people on this earth.

One-sided forgiveness 

So far, we have been operating with the assumption that our offer of forgiveness is a response to a request for forgiveness. It’s wonderful, and Biblical, when that happens. It is, indeed, the way it is supposed to be. But, as we all know, that is not always the way it is. What happens when you are wronged (sinned against) and deserve an apology but no apology is coming - ever? 

Here we have an option. We can spend the rest of our lives with the realization that we were wronged, deserve an apology, are not getting one, and respond to new people and new situations out of our bitterness and unresolved hurt. 

Or we can do what Christ did. Knowing that he was not going to get the apology he deserved from the people that were falsely accusing him and unjustly condemning him, he responded with, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

This can mean that we lay our hurt at the foot of the cross and move forward in freedom from the bitterness that Satan so desperately wants to use to tempt us. Instead of finding our identity in what the public square, or the others in our office, think about us as a result of someone else's gossip about us, we rest in our forgives from Christ for the sins we committed against Him and others. 

In the public square, offering forgiveness, even when it has not been asked for, relieves us from the burden of plotting our revenge or the demise of the one who hurt us. As a result, we are giving up a certain amount of power. We are emptying ourselves a bit by not accessing a response that many would commend. 

Forgiveness is hard stuff. But the gospel sets us free to embrace every aspect of forgiveness and to have our hearts transformed. It frees us to ask for forgiveness. It frees us to receive forgiveness. It frees us to offer forgiveness. True forgiveness is essential to whole-life discipleship, in the whole of life, for the whole of the public square.

Application questions

For those of you struggling to forgive, ask yourself three questions:

“What will it cost you to forgive?” Your pride, your bitterness, your anger, your hatred, your self-loathing? 


What did it cost the Father to forgive the debt you incurred when you sinned against him?


How might an offer of forgiveness bless the one who wronged you? How might it bless you?

Weekly Office

  • Monday: Morning: 1 Samuel 22: 6-23, Romans 15:14-33, Psalm 38, 39, 40 // Evening: 1 Samuel 23, Luke 8:1-21, Psalm 38, 39, 40
  • Tuesday: Morning: 1 Samuel 24, Romans 16, Psalm 44, 45, 46 // Evening: 1 Samuel 25:1-43, Luke 8:22-56, Psalm 44, 45, 46
  • Wednesday: Morning: 1 Samuel 26, 1 Corinthians 1:1-25, Psalm 50, 51, 52 // Evening:1 Samuel 28:1-29, Luke 9:1-17, Psalm 50, 51, 52
  • Thursday: Morning: 1 Samuel 30, 1 Corinthians 1:26-2:16, Psalm 56, 57, 58// Evening: 2 Samuel 1, Luke 9:18-50, Psalm 56, 57, 58
  • Friday: Morning: 2 Samuel 2:1-3:1, 1 Corinthians 3, Psalm 62, 63, 64// Evening: 2 Samuel 3:2-39, Luke 9:51-62, Psalm 62, 63, 64
  • Saturday: Morning: 2 Samuel 4-5:12, 1 Corinthians 4:1-17, Psalm 68 // Evening: 2 Samuel 6, Luke 10:1-24, Psalm 68
  • Sunday: Morning: Judges 16:4-31, Mark 9:30-50, Psalm 71, 72 // Evening: 2 Samuel 11, Acts 8:26-39, Psalm 71, 72

Faithful Prayer - Talking to Our Father

  • Cabinet Agency: The staff of the United States International Trade Commission as they “investigate and make determinations in proceedings involving imports claimed to injure a domestic industry or violate U.S. intellectual property rights; provide independent analysis and information on tariffs, trade and competitiveness; and maintain the U.S. tariff schedule.”
  • Think Tank, Lobby group, NGO: The Peterson Institute for International Economics, an “independent nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to strengthening prosperity and human welfare in the global economy through expert analysis and practical policy solutions.”
  • Weekly delegation: For the congressional delegation of Minnesota. 
  • News events: For staff at the State Department who continue diplomatic efforts with Israel, Lebanon, and Iran. For staff at the Federal Reserve, and Treasury who continue to interpret and respond to recent economic data. For the staff at the Department of Education who will be overseeing the recently revised FASFA form and application process. 
  • Personal requests: For someone looking for a new position with more responsibility and opportunity. For a couple trying to get their child to sleep through the night. For a couple going through a “parental meat-grinder that produces hellscapes of pain.” For someone working on a writing project that involves interviewing someone in the later stage of life with an amazing story to tell. For someone concerned about their level of drinking. 

On the Page - Articles We Enjoyed

What's Happening - In Politics & Culture

Two Thumbs Up! - Nooshi, DuPont Circle

Just down the street from Casa De Montecristo Cigar Lounge is a delightful Asian-fusion spot offering a great atmosphere for dining in (or outside) and an excellent choice for take-out. Nooshi has a phenomenal sushi and sashimi menu and everything we tried was fresh and full of flavor. The Vietnamese Spring Rolls are a great appetizer leading up to any manner of entrees. You might want to try the Bulgogi Kimchi Fried Rice served in a hot stone pot or perhaps the Curry Laska in coconut milk. If you are in the mood for sushi, the Suzuki (Striped Bass) is amazing.

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