Right vs. Righteous
Matthew 6:15 (NIV)
But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
There comes a point in every offense where you have to decide: Do I want to be right, or do I want to be righteous? You may have every reason to be offended. The facts might be on your side. The pain might be deep. The people around you might even agree with you. But Jesus didn’t ask whether or not the offense was valid, He asked whether or not you’re willing to forgive.
That’s the hard part. Because sometimes, we wear our offense like a badge of honor. We think letting go means letting them win. But Jesus flips the script: Forgiveness is not weakness, it’s obedience. It’s spiritual maturity. It’s trusting that God is a better judge than we are.
Matthew 6:15 is one of the most sobering verses in Scripture. Jesus says if we don’t forgive others, we shouldn’t expect forgiveness from God. That should stop us in our tracks. Not because God is cruel, but because forgiveness is central to His nature, and if we’re following Him, it has to be central to ours too.
Being right might feel good for a moment. But being righteous is what will matter for eternity. You can’t carry a grudge and grace at the same time. One has to go.
Prayer:
Jesus, I don’t want to live just being right—I want to live being righteous. You forgave me of everything, and I want to reflect that same grace to others. Help me surrender my pride, my case, my “rightness,” and take up compassion. Remind me that forgiveness sets me free. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
There comes a point in every offense where you have to decide: Do I want to be right, or do I want to be righteous? You may have every reason to be offended. The facts might be on your side. The pain might be deep. The people around you might even agree with you. But Jesus didn’t ask whether or not the offense was valid, He asked whether or not you’re willing to forgive.
That’s the hard part. Because sometimes, we wear our offense like a badge of honor. We think letting go means letting them win. But Jesus flips the script: Forgiveness is not weakness, it’s obedience. It’s spiritual maturity. It’s trusting that God is a better judge than we are.
Matthew 6:15 is one of the most sobering verses in Scripture. Jesus says if we don’t forgive others, we shouldn’t expect forgiveness from God. That should stop us in our tracks. Not because God is cruel, but because forgiveness is central to His nature, and if we’re following Him, it has to be central to ours too.
Being right might feel good for a moment. But being righteous is what will matter for eternity. You can’t carry a grudge and grace at the same time. One has to go.
Prayer:
Jesus, I don’t want to live just being right—I want to live being righteous. You forgave me of everything, and I want to reflect that same grace to others. Help me surrender my pride, my case, my “rightness,” and take up compassion. Remind me that forgiveness sets me free. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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