Bread from the Basket: Your Daily Slice

Elul 24

Forgiveness …

“…forgiving one another, as Elohim also forgave you in Messiah.” (Eph 4:32 ISR)

Most of us that have come out of the Westernized Christian Church system have been taught that all that is needed – as far as forgiveness is concerned – is to address our Father, admit to our transgression, and ask for forgiveness. We were told that these steps were all that were needed, and from that point on, we were forgiven, and walked in freedom. Personally, I have never been comfortable with this ‘formula’, for it has no room for personal accountability and responsibility.

Very recently, after studying, lengthy discussions with my Torah Teacher, and more studying, I have a far better understanding on just what the entire concept of forgiveness really is. And of course, there is far more to it that just mouthing the words, “Father, I have sinned.”

First and foremost, we must remember that at the time the book of Ephesians was written, all the Apostle Paul had to ‘work’ with was the Torah, and some of the Tanakh (the Old Testament, the final canonization of the Tanakh was not completed until late in the second century C.E.[1]). There was no Brit Chadashah (New Testament); it was still being written, as Paul was one of the major contributors. Second, we also need to recall that Paul was a Pharisee (Phi 3:5), extremely well-learned in the workings of Torah. He understood, backwards, forwards, and in every way, the entire concept of forgiveness laid out for us in the Torah.

Forgiveness between individuals cannot be given, nor received, before it is first asked for. Let me expand on this: If a man has done ‘evil’ (remember, evil is defined as that which is against Torah) against another, the first man must go to the party that has been wronged, admit to the wrongdoing, and do tikkun – a Hebrew word that means to repair, restore, and make restitution. Because the nation of Israel was an agricultural people at the time of the writing of the Torah, much of the terms of tikkun were written in agricultural terms, such as repayment of sheep, goats, etc (see Ex 21, 22, 23). However, what needs to be emphasized here is the process that must be adhered to: first, admission, second, tikkun, third, forgiveness, and only then could the first man being his guilt offering to the priests. No tikkun, no offering, and no forgiveness. Messiah Yeshua confirmed this in the infamous ‘Sermon on the Mount’: “If, then, you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother holds whatever against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go, first make peace with your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Mat 5:23-24).

Yom Kippur plays an important part in this process. The ten days between Yom Teruah (Rosh Hashanah) and Yom Kippur are traditionally known as the “Days of Awe”, a special time given to making reparation for the unintentional sins that we have committed over the course of the previous year. This is the time to go to that one that is offended, admit to the wrong, and if possible, make restitution for what was done. Again, if it is possible, repair and restore the relationship that has been damaged. If restoration is not possible, you still will have done what Torah instructs you to do, and you will receive the forgiveness from Elohim because of your obedience to following the process needed.

There are those of us who have damaged emotions and nefesh (our inner man) from events that have happened in our past; the perpetrator may not even accept that they did wrong. Again, forgiveness cannot be given until such time as that individual recognizes the wrong that was done, and comes to you – paNim ‘el paNim (face to face) – accepting responsibility for his/her actions, and asking you for forgiveness. It is up to the offender to come to you; without first doing so, there will be no forgiveness from our Creator.

Does this negate the pain that we suffer? By no means. However, it remains our choice as to whether we nurse and rehearse the event that caused the damage, or whether we release it into our Father’s care, trusting Him to bring healing to those damaged areas. From personal experience, I know that He is faithful to do so.

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father shall also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither shall your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Mat 6:14-15 ISR)