In the Greek New Testament, there are three understandings of forgiveness:
1. Aphiemi means to send away or to set free.
On the day of atonement a scapegoat was chosen and carried to a solitary place and released into the desert, carrying with it all the sins of the people. Jesus is our scapegoat. To forgive is to place the sins and wrongs done to us on Jesus and send those sins away. The hurt needs somewhere to go and we won't feel differently about the person who wronged us until we place that hurt somewhere else - that is on Jesus.
2. Alphesis means to release,
as from prison.
We need to release those who have wronged us from the prison of our mind. We hold them there in captivity judging them time and again - growing angrier by the day.
We rehearse what we'd say to them if we could and how we'd explain ourselves. But to forgive is to release them from this prison we hold them in.
3. Charisomai means to bestow a favor or extend mercy.
Often we assume that those who hurt us were intentional. The key to forgiveness is to find the compassionate narrative behind their hurtful actions. We must enter the story of those who have wronged us to see why they behaved the way they did. After entering their story, we are more likely to extend mercy and forgiveness.
What flavor of forgiveness do you need to experience?
Who do you need to forgive today?
