Forgiveness and Boundaries Can Coexist

Matthew 5:21-26

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insult his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.”

These red-letter words (words of Jesus) come from the famous Sermon on the Mount, when he declares his position on numerous everyday issues. He repeated the phrase, “You have heard that it was said, but I tell you…” many times during this sermon as a way to let us know that he came to fulfill the law of old, but with a whole new perspective on it – one that considered the internal spirit, not just outward rules and behaviors. Verses 21-26 in Matthew 5 is interestingly under the heading of “Anger” in the NIV translation. This may assume that the root of unforgiveness is anger. Since the two are intrinsically connected, you cannot have one without the other. God knows that if we stay in a state of unforgiveness, we will remain in our anger toward another, which will separate us from the love of God. In order to not be separated, we must find a way to purge the anger toward another from our hearts, so that there is room for His love. Easier said than done, right?