What’s wrong with these people?
The best statement about forgiveness came from Golda Meir to the Palestinians.....”We can forgive you for killing our children....but we shall never forgive you for making us kill yours.”
Just ask Louis Zamperini. Hatred can destroy your heart. Forgiveness is the only way to actually live your life again.
Matthew 18: 21-22 NIV
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? “Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:43-45 NIV)
How can a victim forgive their enemy if the offender hasn’t asked for it? We can all understand not allowing bitterness to ruin our lives, but forgiveness must be sought before it can be given.
Are Jews commanded to forgive in Judaism?
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. In other words, as you forgive, so you shall be forgiven. Forgive not, be forgiven not. Seems clear enough, if I have it right. Not easy though, even for the relatively minor things. But for genocide? That would be very tough. My hat’s off to anyone who can do it.
I don’t have to forgive them and I won’t. They killed my great grandparents, imprisoned my grandparents, took everything from them, and made them send their children (my dad and his brother) out of the country to be raised as orphans.
If she wants to forgive someone who did something personally to her, fine. But in our religion you are not in a position to forgive someone A) if they did something not to you and B) if they don’t ask for forgiveness in any way and attempt to provide restitution.
My precious grandmother of blessed memory dealt with it differently. She chose to not focus on the murders of her beloved parents, she chose to never speak of those bad times, and to her last day focus on what is beautiful in the world. I would have wanted to hear about it but it wasn’t her way. She spent most of her later years loving things, from her grandchildren to flowers to iced coffees.