Forgiveness is one of the greatest acts of Faith

** Forgiveness is not Elective

Matthew 4:13 is the thirteenth verse of the fourth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. 

  Forgiveness is  one of the greatest acts of Faith

In the previous verse, Jesus had returned to Galilee where he had grown up after hearing of the arrest of John the Baptist. But then in this verse, he moves from Nazareth to Capernaum on the NW coast of the Sea of Galilee, an important commercial port on an ancient trade route.  Now part of the Roman empire.

Jesus moved to Capernaum to establish a sort of base for his earthly ministry.

 Some scholars who have debated what the New Testament claims which show Jesus had spoken and taught in synagogues - because they had thought the only Synagogues were in Jerusalem. 
However now we know archaeologists have found the remains of Synagogues in Migdal, Capernaum, Herodan, Qumram, Massda, and Magdala and many other places.
In Aug 2016, the Kehila News Isreal; announced the discovery of a synagogue in Tel Rechesh in lower Galilee. Which shows there were Synagogues thru out the part of the world!

Jewish men had to be over 30 to become a Rabbi {"teacher"}, they were trained to be  "good Shepherds" for the common people {"sheep"} who were considered to be simple-minded as most people in first-century Israel were uneducated in the formal sense. 

A Rabbi would then  —  with the a command of simply "Come", and the people would follow it was understood that people never ask why.  The people never knew where or why they were going. Then teaching in parables which were easy of the people to relate. Things people had seen, heard, felt or tasted, became the points of reference which guided the people. 

This is why Jesus would go out into a field and then observing flowers say: 
" Consider the flowers of the field, how they grow "
{Matt 6:28} to illustrate the point he was making. 

Capernaum was the "Millstone" capital of the Mideast at this time. So using this we can see why Jesus taught saying: " If anyone causes one of these little ones  - those who believe in me -  to stumble, it would be better for them to have a Millstone hung around their neck the to be drowned in the sea."  Matt 18:6
He never talked down to them as the Pharisees or the Sadducee's did. 

Capernaum is where Jesus taught about forgiveness after Peter inquired.
" Lord how many times shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? 
Up to seven times?" to which Jesus replied, " I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."   Matt 18:21-22 NKJV

Peter had thought forgiving someone up to seven times was very spiritual. 
Yet Jesus had replied up to 490 times!  All things Jesus spoke were very purposeful - He never wasted words. Therefore the large number of 490 times He instructed us is very significant. It was beyond a simple response, it was a specific planned lesson! 

Hebrew and Greek are some of several multi level languages: example; every Hebrew word has a numerical value, and these values frequently communicate a deeper spiritual insight - such is the case here. 
A study of Hebrew would reveil such. 

 The number 490 has the numerical value of Biblical Hebrew word "Tamim,"  which means "complete, perfect, or finished." A person who can not forgive will always live an imperfect and uncomplete life which lacks a true understanding of the finished, gracious work of the cross. The number 490 is also the value of the Hebrew phase "Let your heart be perfect" {1 Kings 8:61 my translation}. 

Forgiving helps make us complete and is key to perfecting our hearts before the Lord God.

Other Hebrew words which have an even deeper connections are: the Hebrew word for "my nativity" {moladati} and Bethlehem {Beit Lechem} where the Messiah was born, means House of Bread - each individually adds up to 490. 
This makes perfect sense, since Jesus was born so that we might be forgiven. And forgiveness is associated with bread in the Lord's Prayer, where it says: "Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors" {Matt 6:11-12 TLV}. So just as a person can not live without their daily bread, an individual can not survive without forgiveness.

 The psalmist wrote, " if you, Lord kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?" {Psalm 10:3}. Therefore we need to learn to forgive and to be forgiven. How do we celebrate the forgiveness Messiah brought? 

By partaking of the broken bread of the Lord's Supper, concerning that which Jesus said, " This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me" {luke22:19}. 

Jesus, who is the Bread of Life, was born in Bethelem, the House of Bread, so that we might both experience forgiveness and extend the bread of forgiveness to others. When we fail to forgive, it's like we are spiritually with holding food from a starving person! 

 Forgiveness is not an elective: it is a requirement for the followers of Christ.
 We must forgive because we have been forgiven by the Lord. Extending forgiveness should not even be dependent upon receiving an apology. " Bear with each other and forgive as the Lord forgave you." {Colossians 3:13}. For this reason, forgiveness is one of the greatest acts of Faith and a true sign of fullness to the Lord. We must forgive because we have been forgiven. The the practical benefit of forgiveness is that it frees us as well as the other person. Unforgiveness keeps you imprisoned and chained to your past, but forgiving is the key that sets you free.

Don't delay! Ask yourself as well as the lord, whom do I need to forgive today? Do you need to forgive yourself, a friend, or even a family member? 

May the Lord give you the faith and grace right now to forgive in Jesus Holy Name!

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  *** This blog is partly from Chap 11 {Forgiveness}  in the book: 
The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi - 
by K. L. Gifford - 2016