Unforgiveness And Stumbling Blocks

This morning I am reading from Luke 17:1-4 NIV:

[1] "Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. [2] It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. [3] So watch yourselves.

“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. [4] Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

So often when we read the bible we focus on one specific verse or idea, often pulling it out of context. That is generally how I hear these two sets of verses preached, as if they are separate ideas, and with a separate meaning. It is interesting that verse 3, is seemingly split between the two different ideas, but I think its part of the same idea that Jesus is expressing. If we combine the two, we see that unforgiveness can be a stumbling block in peoples lives. As I think more about that, I realize it is very true, especially in relationships that are meant to endure, like family.

I am sure we all know someone who holds a grudge, which is really just unforgiveness. I know several people who are unwilling to forgive family members for past sins and injuries, and those grudges are huge stumbling blocks to themselves and to those that are unforgiven. They are unwilling to see the other person for who they are, unwilling to see repentance or accept it, and unwilling to trust again and grow. They stumble themselves over this grudge, and end up viewing everything through the lenses of unforgiveness. The person who is the object of their grudge cannot move forward themselves in these relationships either.

It is interesting that the focus of Jesus is on the one who places the stumbling block, and the one who must forgive, in this came the same person. So often the person holding the grudge feels justified in their stance, yet the words of Jesus here indicate the danger of that stance. In Matt 6, Jesus connects our forgiveness of others, to God's forgiveness of us. He is teaching the disciples to pray saying, "And forgive us our debts (sins), as we also have forgiven our debtors (those who sin against us).". Matt 6:12. Reading this carefully, forgiveness from God is given to us in the same way we forgive others. So if we don't forgive, we are not forgiven, and we are not forgiven our hearts are in perilous danger.

So back to the verses from Luke 17, Jesus is saying that we have a responsibility to others to forgive them, regardless of how many times they sin had ask forgiveness. We are responsible to make sure we are not putting stumbling blocks in other people lives, and this is our only responsibility in this regard. We are not called to judge, to punish, or anything else, but to rebuke them. Here is a very interesting translation, for the word commonly translated rebuke is the Greek word Epitimao - Definition:
1. to show honour to, to honour
2. to raise the price of
3. to adjudge, award, in the sense of merited penalty
4. to tax with fault, rate, chide, rebuke, reprove, censure severely a. to admonish or charge sharply

This word is a conjunction of two other Greek words, Epi and timao. They mean 'upon or against, positionally" and 'valuation, or setting value' which gives us the definition of getting or understanding or placing the true value of something or someone, and how its valuation is affected. So when rebuking someone, we should be sharing with them, how their actions speaks of our value in their eyes, and by forgiving them we are showing our perspective of their value to us. Unforgiveness says they have no value, and that is the danger, for we do not have the right to set someone else's valuation in the Body of Christ. Jesus has already expressed their worth by dying for them, shedding His blood for them, and paying the price for them.

If we find ourselves unable to forgive, then our cry should be the same as the disciples in verse 5, "Lord, increase our faith!". In other words - Lord, I need Your help to belief in the worth of this person, and I need Your help in stepping back and seeing the person as you see them. If we can practice forgiveness, getting rid of grudges, unforgiveness and pain and doubt, we can receive the fullness of what the Lord has planned for us.

Amen Lord.