In the previous two DIGs we have looked at sections of the Word where we, as New Covenant born again believers, do not take the words of Jesus literally.
The second one about plucking out our eye and cutting our hand off is from the Sermon on the Mount, and our next ‘difficult’ passage also comes from there.
The strange thing however is that most of the church seems to want to take this passage literally.
I am talking about Matthew 6 v 14 and 15, where Jesus talks about forgiveness.
This is spoken to Jews living under the Law, and Jesus is ‘raising the bar’ (once again) showing that it is impossible to get yourself right with God in your own strength.
This is exactly the same as He did with regards to telling people to cut off their hand or pluck out their eye.
Yet we have believers happily asking for forgiveness in order to be forgiven, yet not plucking out eyes or cutting off hands!
This is just silly, especially when we read other New Covenant scriptures about forgiveness.
We have already been forgiven through the shed blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1 v 7 and Colossians 1 v 14).
We can only forgive others as we have been forgiven first by God (Ephesians 4 v 32).
If these New Covenant scriptures are true is Jesus just confused asking for us to forgive others first?
No He is not, He is using this as a picture of our inability to be made righteous through works, and how we can only be made righteous through faith in Him.
Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that I have already been forgiven for all my sin through the shed blood of Jesus”.
Ephesians 1 v 7…..In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace
Heilan Word Ministries 