5. Forgiveness

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15

It took me a long time to learn that God is not the enemy of his enemies. > Martin Niemoller

“I can forgive, but I cannot forget,” is only another of saying, “I will not forgive.” > Henry Ward Beecher

A Christian will find it cheaper to pardon than to resent. Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits. > Hannah Moore

Forgiveness: the odour of flowers when they are trampled on. > Author Unknown

There is no use in talking as if forgiveness were easy. We all know the old joke, “You’ve given up smoking; I’ve given up a dozen times.” In the same way I could say of a certain man, “Have I forgiven him for what he did that day? I’ve forgiven him more times than I can count.” For we find that the work of forgiveness has to be done over and over again. > C. S. Lewis

Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. > Author Unknown

Good to forgive; best to forget. > Robert Browning

Always forgive your enemies – nothing annoys them so much. > Oscar Wilde

I think I may have to go through the agony of hearing all my sins recited in the presence of God. But I believe it will be like this – Jesus will come over and lay his hand across my shoulders and say to God, “Yes, all these things are true, but I am here to cover up for Peter. He is sorry for all his sins, and by a transaction made between us, I am solely responsible for them.” > Peter Marshall

If we refuse mercy here, we shall have justice in eternity. > Jeremy Taylor

See also Isaiah 1:18; Matthew 6:12; 18:21-35; 1 John 1:9.