Refusing to forgive a repentant brother is sin. Our Lord taught us to pray, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” warning that “if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6:12, 15, KJV). He pressed the point with Peter: forgiveness is not counted but continual—“seventy times seven” (Matt. 18:21–22)—and He illustrated it in the parable of the unforgiving servant, whose great debt was remitted, yet who would not forgive a little, and was judged accordingly (Matt. 18:23–35). The apostolic rule is plain: “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath,” and, “be ye kind one to another… forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:26, 32; cf. Col. 3:13; Luke 17:3–4). In Reformed terms, forgiveness does not merit our pardon but manifests it: those united to Christ extend the grace they have received. To withhold forgiveness against repentance is rebellion against God’s revealed will, and may be the sad evidence of an unrenewed heart (Matt. 6:15).
