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Ezekiel 36

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1 καί-C σύ- P--NS υἱός-N2--VSM ἄνθρωπος-N2--GSM προφητεύω-VA--AAD2S ἐπί-P ὁ- A--APN ὄρος-N3E-APN *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM καί-C εἶπον-VB--AAD2S ὁ- A--DPN ὄρος-N3E-DPN ὁ- A--GSM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM ἀκούω-VA--AAD2P λόγος-N2--ASM κύριος-N2--GSM

2 ὅδε- D--APN λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM κύριος-N2--NSM ἀντί-P ὅς- --GPM εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S ὁ- A--NSM ἐχθρός-N2--NSM ἐπί-P σύ- P--AP εὖγε-D ἔρημος-A1--NPN αἰώνιος-A1B-NPN εἰς-P κατάσχεσις-N3I-ASF ἐγώ- P--DP γίγνομαι-VCI-API3S

3 διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN προφητεύω-VA--AAD2S καί-C εἶπον-VB--AAD2S ὅδε- D--APN λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM κύριος-N2--NSM ἀντί-P ὁ- A--GSN ἀτιμάζω-VS--APN σύ- P--AP καί-C μισέω-VC--APN σύ- P--AP ὑπό-P ὁ- A--GPM κύκλος-N2--DSM σύ- P--GP ὁ- A--GSN εἰμί-V9--PAN σύ- P--AP εἰς-P κατάσχεσις-N3I-ASF ὁ- A--DPN κατάλοιπος-A1B-DPN ἔθνος-N3E-DPN καί-C ἀναβαίνω-VZI-AAI2P λάλημα-N3M-ASN γλῶσσα-N1S-DSF καί-C εἰς-P ὀνείδισμα-N3N-ASN ἔθνος-N3E-DPN

4 διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN ὄρος-N3E-VPN *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM ἀκούω-VA--AAD2P λόγος-N2--ASM κύριος-N2--GSM ὅδε- D--APN λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM ὁ- A--DPN ὄρος-N3E-DPN καί-C ὁ- A--DPM βουνός-N2--DPM καί-C ὁ- A--DPF φάραγξ-N3G-DPF καί-C ὁ- A--DPM χειμάρρους-N2--DPM καί-C ὁ- A--DPM ἐκἐρημόω-VM--XPPDPM καί-C ἀπο ἀναἵζω-VT--XPPDPM καί-C ὁ- A--DPF πόλις-N3I-DPF ὁ- A--DPF ἐν καταλείπω-VP--XMPDPF ὅς- --NPF γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3P εἰς-P προνομή-N1--ASF καί-C εἰς-P καταπάτημα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--DPM καταλείπω-VC--APPDPM ἔθνος-N3E-DPN περικύκλῳ-D

5 διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN ὅδε- D--APN λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM κύριος-N2--NSM εἰ-C μήν-X ἐν-P πῦρ-N3--DSN θυμός-N2--GSM ἐγώ- P--GS λαλέω-VAI-AAI1S ἐπί-P ὁ- A--APN λοιπός-A1--APN ἔθνος-N3E-APN καί-C ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASF *ιδουμαία-N1A-ASF πᾶς-A1S-ASF ὅτι-C δίδωμι-VAI-AAI3P ὁ- A--ASF γῆ-N1--ASF ἐγώ- P--GS ἑαυτοῦ- D--DPM εἰς-P κατάσχεσις-N3I-ASF μετά-P εὐφροσύνη-N1--GSF ἀτιμάζω-VA--AAPNPM ψυχή-N1--APF ὁ- A--GSN ἀπο ἀναἵζω-VA--AAN ἐν-P προνομή-N1--DSF

6 διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN προφητεύω-VA--AAD2S ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASF γῆ-N1--ASF ὁ- A--GSM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM καί-C εἶπον-VB--AAD2S ὁ- A--DPN ὄρος-N3E-DPN καί-C ὁ- A--DPM βουνός-N2--DPM καί-C ὁ- A--DPF φάραγξ-N3G-DPF καί-C ὁ- A--DPF νάπη-N1--DPF ὅδε- D--APN λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM ἰδού-I ἐγώ- P--NS ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSM ζῆλος-N2--DSM ἐγώ- P--GS καί-C ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSM θυμός-N2--DSM ἐγώ- P--GS λαλέω-VAI-AAI1S ἀντί-P ὁ- A--GSM ὀνειδισμός-N2--APM ἔθνος-N3E-GPN φέρω-VA--AAN σύ- P--AP

7 διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN ἐγώ- P--NS αἴρω-VF2-FAI1S ὁ- A--ASF χείρ-N3--ASF ἐγώ- P--GS ἐπί-P ὁ- A--APN ἔθνος-N3E-APN ὁ- A--APN περικύκλῳ-D σύ- P--GP οὗτος- D--NPM ὁ- A--ASF ἀτιμία-N1A-ASF αὐτός- D--GPM λαμβάνω-VF--FMI3P

8 σύ- P--GP δέ-X ὄρος-N3E-VPN *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM ὁ- A--ASF σταφυλή-N1--ASF καί-C ὁ- A--ASM καρπός-N2--ASM σύ- P--GP καταἐσθίω-VF--FMI3S ὁ- A--NSM λαός-N2--NSM ἐγώ- P--GS ὅτι-C ἐγγίζω-V1--PAI3P ὁ- A--GSN ἔρχομαι-VB--AAN

9 ὅτι-C ἰδού-I ἐγώ- P--NS ἐπί-P σύ- P--AP καί-C ἐπιβλέπω-VF--FAI1S ἐπί-P σύ- P--AP καί-C καταἐργάζομαι-VS--FPI2P καί-C σπείρω-VD--FPI2P

10 καί-C πληθύνω-VF2-FAI1S ἐπί-P σύ- P--AP ἄνθρωπος-N2--APM πᾶς-A3--ASN οἶκος-N2--ASM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM εἰς-P τέλος-N3E-ASN καί-C καταοἰκέω-VC--FPI3P ὁ- A--NPF πόλις-N3I-NPF καί-C ὁ- A--NSF ἐρημόω-VM--XPPNSF οἰκοδομέω-VC--FPI3S

11 καί-C πληθύνω-VF2-FAI1S ἐπί-P σύ- P--AP ἄνθρωπος-N2--APM καί-C κτῆνος-N3E-APN καί-C καταοἰκίζω-VF2-FAI1S σύ- P--AP ὡς-C ὁ- A--ASN ἐν-P ἀρχή-N1--DSF σύ- P--GP καί-C εὖ-D ποιέω-VF--FAI1S σύ- P--AP ὥσπερ-D ὁ- A--APN ἔμπροσθεν-P σύ- P--GP καί-C γιγνώσκω-VF--FMI2P ὅτι-C ἐγώ- P--NS εἰμί-V9--PAI1S κύριος-N2--NSM

12 καί-C γεννάω-VF--FAI1S ἐπί-P σύ- P--AP ἄνθρωπος-N2--APM ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM ἐγώ- P--GS *ἰσραήλ-N---ASM καί-C κληρονομέω-VF--FAI3P σύ- P--AP καί-C εἰμί-VF--FMI2P αὐτός- D--DPM εἰς-P κατάσχεσις-N3I-ASF καί-C οὐ-D μή-D προςτίθημι-VC--APS2P ἔτι-D ἀτεκνόω-VC--APN ἀπό-P αὐτός- D--GPM

13 ὅδε- D--APN λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM κύριος-N2--NSM ἀντί-P ὅς- --GPM εἶπον-VAI-AAI3P σύ- P--DS καταἐσθίω-V1--PAPNSF ἄνθρωπος-N2--APM εἰμί-V9--PAI2S καί-C ἀτεκνόω-VM--XMPNSF ὑπό-P ὁ- A--GSN ἔθνος-N3E-GSN σύ- P--GS γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI2S

14 διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN ἄνθρωπος-N2--APM οὐκέτι-D ἐσθίω-VF--FMI2S καί-C ὁ- A--ASN ἔθνος-N3E-ASN σύ- P--GS οὐ-D ἀτεκνόω-VF--FAI2S ἔτι-D λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM κύριος-N2--NSM

15 καί-C οὐ-D ἀκούω-VC--FPI3S οὐκέτι-D ἐπί-P σύ- P--AP ἀτιμία-N1A-NSF ἔθνος-N3E-GPN καί-C ὀνειδισμός-N2--APM λαός-N2--GPM οὐ-D μή-D ἀναφέρω-VA--AAS2P λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM κύριος-N2--NSM

16 καί-C γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S λόγος-N2--NSM κύριος-N2--GSM πρός-P ἐγώ- P--AS λέγω-V1--PAPNSM

17 υἱός-N2--VSM ἄνθρωπος-N2--GSM οἶκος-N2--NSM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM καταοἰκέω-VAI-AAI3S ἐπί-P ὁ- A--GSF γῆ-N1--GSF αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C μιαίνω-VAI-AAI3P αὐτός- D--ASF ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF ὁδός-N2--DSF αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPN εἴδωλον-N2N-DPN αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF ἀκαθαρσία-N1A-DPF αὐτός- D--GPM κατά-P ὁ- A--ASF ἀκαθαρσία-N1A-ASF ὁ- A--GSF ἀπο καταἧμαι-V5--PMPGSF γίγνομαι-VCI-API3S ὁ- A--NSF ὁδός-N2--NSF αὐτός- D--GPM πρό-P πρόσωπον-N2N-GSN ἐγώ- P--GS

18 καί-C ἐκχέω-VAI-AAI1S ὁ- A--ASM θυμός-N2--ASM ἐγώ- P--GS ἐπί-P αὐτός- D--APM

19 καί-C διασπείρω-VAI-AAI1S αὐτός- D--APM εἰς-P ὁ- A--APN ἔθνος-N3E-APN καί-C λικμάω-VAI-AAI1S αὐτός- D--APM εἰς-P ὁ- A--APF χώρα-N1A-APF κατά-P ὁ- A--ASF ὁδός-N2--ASF αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C κατά-P ὁ- A--ASF ἁμαρτία-N1A-ASF αὐτός- D--GPM κρίνω-VBI-AAI1S αὐτός- D--APM

20 καί-C εἰςἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3P εἰς-P ὁ- A--APN ἔθνος-N3E-APN ὅς- --GSM εἰςἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3P ἐκεῖ-D καί-C βεβηλόω-VAI-AAI3P ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN ἐγώ- P--GS ὁ- A--ASN ἅγιος-A1A-ASN ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSN λέγω-V1--PMN αὐτός- D--APM λαός-N2--NSM κύριος-N2--GSM οὗτος- D--NPM καί-C ἐκ-P ὁ- A--GSF γῆ-N1--GSF αὐτός- D--GSM ἐκἔρχομαι-VX--XAI3P

21 καί-C φείδομαι-VAI-AMI1S αὐτός- D--GPM διά-P ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN ἐγώ- P--GS ὁ- A--ASN ἅγιος-A1A-ASN ὅς- --ASN βεβηλόω-VAI-AAI3P οἶκος-N2--NSM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPN ἔθνος-N3E-DPN ὅς- --GSM εἰςἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3P ἐκεῖ-D

22 διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN εἶπον-VB--AAD2S ὁ- A--DSM οἶκος-N2--DSM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM ὅδε- D--APN λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM οὐ-D σύ- P--DP ἐγώ- P--NS ποιέω-V2--PAI1S οἶκος-N2--NSM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM ἀλλά-C ἤ-C διά-P ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN ἐγώ- P--GS ὁ- A--ASN ἅγιος-A1A-ASN ὅς- --ASN βεβηλόω-VAI-AAI2P ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPN ἔθνος-N3E-DPN ὅς- --GSM εἰςἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI2P ἐκεῖ-D

23 καί-C ἁγιάζω-VF--FAI1S ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN ἐγώ- P--GS ὁ- A--ASN μέγας-A1P-ASN ὁ- A--ASN βεβηλόω-VC--APPASN ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPN ἔθνος-N3E-DPN ὅς- --ASN βεβηλόω-VAI-AAI2P ἐν-P μέσος-A1--DSM αὐτός- D--GPN καί-C γιγνώσκω-VF--FMI3P ὁ- A--NPN ἔθνος-N3E-NPN ὅτι-C ἐγώ- P--NS εἰμί-V9--PAI1S κύριος-N2--NSM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSN ἁγιάζω-VS--APN ἐγώ- P--AS ἐν-P σύ- P--DP κατά-P ὀφθαλμός-N2--APM αὐτός- D--GPM

24 καί-C λαμβάνω-VF--FMI1S σύ- P--AP ἐκ-P ὁ- A--GPN ἔθνος-N3E-GPN καί-C ἀθροίζω-VF--FAI1S σύ- P--AP ἐκ-P πᾶς-A1S-GPF ὁ- A--GPF γαῖα-N1A-GPF καί-C εἰςἄγω-VF--FAI1S σύ- P--AP εἰς-P ὁ- A--ASF γῆ-N1--ASF σύ- P--GP

25 καί-C ῥαίνω-VF2-FAI1S ἐπί-P σύ- P--AP ὕδωρ-N3--ASN καθαρός-A1A-ASN καί-C καθαρίζω-VS--FPI2P ἀπό-P πᾶς-A1S-GPF ὁ- A--GPF ἀκαθαρσία-N1A-GPF σύ- P--GP καί-C ἀπό-P πᾶς-A3--GPN ὁ- A--GPN εἴδωλον-N2N-GPN σύ- P--GP καί-C καθαρίζω-VF2-FAI1S σύ- P--AP

26 καί-C δίδωμι-VF--FAI1S σύ- P--DP καρδία-N1A-ASF καινός-A1--ASF καί-C πνεῦμα-N3M-ASN καινός-A1--ASN δίδωμι-VF--FAI1S ἐν-P σύ- P--DP καί-C ἀποαἱρέω-VF2-FAI1S ὁ- A--ASF καρδία-N1A-ASF ὁ- A--ASF λίθινος-A1--ASF ἐκ-P ὁ- A--GSF σάρξ-N3K-GSF σύ- P--GP καί-C δίδωμι-VF--FAI1S σύ- P--DP καρδία-N1A-ASF σάρκινος-A1--ASF

27 καί-C ὁ- A--ASN πνεῦμα-N3M-ASN ἐγώ- P--GS δίδωμι-VF--FAI1S ἐν-P σύ- P--DP καί-C ποιέω-VF--FAI1S ἵνα-C ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPN δικαίωμα-N3M-DPN ἐγώ- P--GS πορεύομαι-V1--PMS2P καί-C ὁ- A--APN κρίμα-N3M-APN ἐγώ- P--GS φυλάσσω-VA--AMS2P καί-C ποιέω-VA--AAS2P

28 καί-C καταοἰκέω-VF--FAI2P ἐπί-P ὁ- A--GSF γῆ-N1--GSF ὅς- --GSF δίδωμι-VAI-AAI1S ὁ- A--DPM πατήρ-N3--DPM σύ- P--GP καί-C εἰμί-VF--FMI2P ἐγώ- P--DS εἰς-P λαός-N2--ASM καΐἐγώ-C+ PNS εἰμί-VF--FMI1S σύ- P--DP εἰς-P θεός-N2--ASM

29 καί-C σώζω-VF--FAI1S σύ- P--AP ἐκ-P πᾶς-A1S-GPF ὁ- A--GPF ἀκαθαρσία-N1A-GPF σύ- P--GP καί-C καλέω-VF--FAI1S ὁ- A--ASM σῖτος-N2--ASM καί-C πληθύνω-VF2-FAI1S αὐτός- D--ASM καί-C οὐ-D δίδωμι-VF--FAI1S ἐπί-P σύ- P--AP λιμός-N2--ASM

30 καί-C πληθύνω-VF2-FAI1S ὁ- A--ASM καρπός-N2--ASM ὁ- A--GSN ξύλον-N2N-GSN καί-C ὁ- A--APN γένημα-N3M-APN ὁ- A--GSM ἀγρός-N2--GSM ὅπως-C μή-D λαμβάνω-VB--AAS2P ὀνειδισμός-N2--ASM λιμός-N2--GSM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPN ἔθνος-N3E-DPN

31 καί-C μιμνήσκω-VS--FPI2P ὁ- A--APF ὁδός-N2--APF σύ- P--GP ὁ- A--APF πονηρός-A1A-APF καί-C ὁ- A--APN ἐπιτήδευμα-N3M-APN σύ- P--GP ὁ- A--APN μή-D ἀγαθός-A1--APN καί-C προςὀχθίζω-VF2-FAI2P κατά-P πρόσωπον-N2N-ASN αὐτός- D--GPM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF ἀνομία-N1A-DPF σύ- P--GP καί-C ἐπί-P ὁ- A--DPN βδέλυγμα-N3M-DPN σύ- P--GP

32 οὐ-D διά-P σύ- P--AP ἐγώ- P--NS ποιέω-V2--PAI1S λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM κύριος-N2--NSM γνωστός-A1--NSN εἰμί-VF--FMI3S σύ- P--DP αἰσχύνω-VC--APD2P καί-C ἐντρέπω-VB--AAD2P ἐκ-P ὁ- A--GPF ὁδός-N2--GPF σύ- P--GP οἶκος-N2--NSM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM

33 ὅδε- D--APN λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM ἐν-P ἡμέρα-N1A-DSF ὅς- --DSF καθαρίζω-VF2-FAI1S σύ- P--AP ἐκ-P πᾶς-A1S-GPF ὁ- A--GPF ἀνομία-N1A-GPF σύ- P--GP καί-C καταοἰκίζω-VF2-FAI1S ὁ- A--APF πόλις-N3I-APF καί-C οἰκοδομέω-VC--FPI3P ὁ- A--NPF ἔρημος-N2--NPF

34 καί-C ὁ- A--NSF γῆ-N1--NSF ὁ- A--NSF ἀπο ἀναἵζω-VT--XPPNSF ἐργάζομαι-VC--FPI3S ἀντί-P ὅς- --GPM ὅτι-C ἀπο ἀναἵζω-VT--XPPNSF γίγνομαι-VCI-API3S κατά-P ὀφθαλμός-N2--APM πᾶς-A3--GSM παραὁδεύω-V1--PAPGSM

35 καί-C εἶπον-VF2-FAI3P ὁ- A--NSF γῆ-N1--NSF ἐκεῖνος- D--NSF ὁ- A--NSF ἀπο ἀναἵζω-VT--XPPNSF γίγνομαι-VCI-API3S ὡς-C κῆπος-N2--NSM τρυφή-N1--GSF καί-C ὁ- A--NPF πόλις-N3I-NPF ὁ- A--NPF ἔρημος-N2--NPF καί-C ἀπο ἀναἵζω-VT--XPPNPF καί-C κατασκάπτω-VV--XPPNPF ὀχυρός-A1A-NPF καταἵζω-VAI-AAI3P

36 καί-C γιγνώσκω-VF--FMI3P ὁ- A--NPN ἔθνος-N3E-NPN ὅσος-A1--NPN ἄν-X καταλείπω-VV--APS3P κύκλος-N2--DSM σύ- P--GP ὅτι-C ἐγώ- P--NS κύριος-N2--NSM οἰκοδομέω-VAI-AAI1S ὁ- A--APF κατααἱρέω-VM--XMPAPF καί-C καταφυτεύω-VAI-AAI1S ὁ- A--APF ἀπο ἀναἵζω-VT--XPPAPF ἐγώ- P--NS κύριος-N2--NSM λαλέω-VAI-AAI1S καί-C ποιέω-VF--FAI1S

37 ὅδε- D--APN λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM ἔτι-D οὗτος- D--ASN ζητέω-VC--FPI1S ὁ- A--DSM οἶκος-N2--DSM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM ὁ- A--GSN ποιέω-VA--AAN αὐτός- D--DPM πληθύνω-VF2-FAI1S αὐτός- D--APM ὡς-C πρόβατον-N2N-APN ἄνθρωπος-N2--APM

38 ὡς-C πρόβατον-N2N-APN ἅγιος-A1A-APN ὡς-C πρόβατον-N2N-APN *ἰερουσαλήμ-N---GSF ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF ἑορτή-N1--DPF αὐτός- D--GSF οὕτως-D εἰμί-VF--FMI3P ὁ- A--NPF πόλις-N3I-NPF ὁ- A--NPF ἔρημος-N2--NPF πλήρης-A3H-NPF πρόβατον-N2N-GPN ἄνθρωπος-N2--GPM καί-C γιγνώσκω-VF--FMI3P ὅτι-C ἐγώ- P--NS κύριος-N2--NSM

   

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What the Bible says about... Forgiveness

Napsal(a) John Odhner

Photo by Gretchen Keith

- Someone recklessly cuts in front of you on the highway, almost forcing you off the road.

- Your friend still has not paid back the fifty dollars he "borrowed" a year ago.

- Your family has been criticizing your lifestyle.

- You find out that your spouse has been unfaithful.

What do you do in situations like these? Can you forgive them? Should you forgive? Or should you "give them what's coming to them"?

We all know that the Bible teaches us to forgive others. But sometimes it seems like it is impossible to forgive, because the wrong that has been done is so great. Sometimes it seems like it just wouldn't be fair to be merciful.

When there seems to be a conflict between mercy and justice, it may be that we do not clearly understand the nature of genuine forgiveness and mercy. The Bible teaches us to show mercy in a way that lets us be both fair and genuinely useful to all involved.

One reason we sometimes get confused about mercy, is that we tend to replace mercy with artificial substitutes. Essentially, mercy is a Divine quality.

"To You, O Lord, belongs mercy." (Psalm 62:12)

Divine Mercy has nothing in common with the petty revenge and "get-even" kind of "fairness" that tends to occupy our thoughts. And it has little in common with the superficial pardon or even condoning of evil that is sometimes passed off as mercy. The Lord's thoughts are far more merciful than ours. It is in speaking of His mercy that the Lord says, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are My ways your ways." (Isaiah 55:7-9)

One of the things that distinguishes true mercy from its substitutes is its constancy. Peter came to the Lord asking, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22)

A truly forgiving person will not show mercy one moment and malice the next, because the two cannot mix together. For example, to forgive your friends but not your enemies is not true mercy, because it would be done for the sake of some favor you might get in return.

"Love your enemies.... For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?" (Matthew 5:44-46)

We can only be truly merciful by completely rejecting any desire for malice or revenge.

This perfectly reflects the way the Lord shows mercy to us. We tend to think that the Lord is changing His mind when He forgives us, as if He decided not to punish us after all. Of course He does not really change His mind at all. He knows and foresees all things. He does not desire to hurt one day and heal the next.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17)

He is always a loving and gentle Father.

"The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear Him." (Psalm 103:17)

"For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord, who has mercy on you." (Isaiah 54:10)

Thus forgiveness is not the Lord changing His mind about us. Rather, it is the Lord changing our minds about Him.

Another quality that marks genuine mercy is that it involves helping the person who has wronged us. Sometimes we think that a person should earn our forgiveness. We refuse to give up our bitter feelings unless the other person makes an effort to earn our good will. This gives us an excuse to feel sorry for ourselves and to neglect helping the other person do better. However, the time to help a person is when he needs it. Mercy and forgiveness involve helping a person who has done wrong do better, not waiting until he does better and then helping him. That's why the Lord said,

"Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:44-45)

Another way we sometimes avoid helping those who have hurt us is by misapplying the phrase "forgive and forget." It is good to forget your own malice. Is is something else to forget that the other person may need our strength or discipline. We might think that forgiving implies forgetting that evil was ever committed. However, the Bible does not tell us simply to forget about the evil in other people. Rather, we are to actively help others face their faults and overcome them.

"If your brother sins against you, rebuke him: and if he repents, forgive him." (Luke 17:3)

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, your have gained your brother." (Matthew 18:15)

"Brethren, if a person is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness." (Galatians 6:1)

Helping others over their faults is not inconsistent with mercy. It is part of mercy. In fact that is exactly how the Lord forgives us. He is always willing to help us do better.

"I will cleanse you from all your filthiness.... I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you." (Ezekiel 36:25-26)

Notice how the Lord showed mercy to the woman taken in adultery: He said, "Go and sin no more." (John 8:10-11)

He didn't forget her sin - He encouraged her to overcome it. In fact, we would never be able to overcome our faults without the Lord's power. If we had to earn His mercy we would be lost.

The Lord says, "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes." (Isaiah 1:16).

And yet this is something that is accomplished only by His mercy and forgiveness, because He is the one who can put away our sin and remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm 65:3; Psalm 103:12)

The Lord asks for us simply to do for others what He does for us. "Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful." (Luke 6:36)

Our forgiveness should be constant and unconditional because He forgives us that way. Yet in our mercy we may confront others with their evil in order to help them become better people, just as the Lord in His mercy confronts us with our evil so that we may overcome it and accept the love and mercy He offers.

To sum up:

Some Christian churches teach this: If you just believe, God will overlook all your sins. God punishes unbelievers, even if they are caring, good people.

What the Bible actually says (and what the New Christian Church teaches): God's mercy involves helping us become better people. God is willing to forgive everyone, and is more concerned how we live than with what we believe.

Some references from teachings for the New Christian Church: Heavenly Secrets 8393, 9443-9454, True Christian Religion 611-614

Used with the permission of John Odhner, the author of this very useful site: whatthebiblesays.info.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 1079; True Christian Religion 409)