Why Did Jesus Change What He Taught About Forgiveness?

We discover in the Bible that Jesus changed what he taught about forgiveness.

But why?

Jesus’ message before the cross and under the law was that forgiveness is conditional.

We see this in Matthew 6:12, 14-16, and 18:35 where Jesus says that unless you forgive others who sin against you, then your heavenly Father will not forgive you.

This was a message of condemnation designed to bring the realization for one’s need for grace.

The message after the cross and under grace is that forgiveness is complete, received simply by faith in Jesus.

We see this in Acts 26:15-18 when Jesus after the cross and after his ascension into heaven told Paul to tell people that forgiveness is received by faith.

We see Paul communicating Jesus’ words about forgiveness in Acts 13:38-39.

Also, we see Peter teaching in Acts 10:43 that forgiveness is received by faith in Jesus.

Why did Jesus change his words about forgiveness from conditional forgiveness in Matthew 6 and 18 to complete forgiveness in Acts 26:18, which we see both Paul and Peter teaching?

What was it that caused a change in the words of Jesus?

The cross.

The cross changed everything!

That is why we see Paul teaching in Colossians 3:12, which is after the cross, to forgive others as the Lord has forgiven you.

Notice how different this is from Matthew 6 and 18.

What’s the difference?

The cross.

The cross makes all the difference in how a person experiences God’s forgiveness and expresses forgiveness to others.

Before the cross, God’s forgiveness was conditional based upon a person forgiving another person.

After the cross, God’s forgiveness is complete based upon the cross of Jesus.

Before the cross, a person forgives others so he can be forgiven by God.

After the cross, a person forgives others because he has been forgiven by God.

So as you listen to Sunday morning sermons, keep in mind that most pastors do not distinguish between the words of Jesus about forgiveness before the cross and his words about forgiveness after the cross.

Most mix the words of Jesus before the cross with his words after the cross.

They do not realize the cross changed Jesus’ words about forgiveness from conditional to complete.

Consequently, these pastors place heavy burdens upon people, not realizing that Jesus spoke these words under the law to lead people to grace.

As you listen to sermons, remember the cross changed Jesus’ words about forgiveness from...

conditional to complete...

from requesting to receiving...

from asking to accepting...

from law to grace.