The Jewish Background to Interpersonal Forgiveness in Matthew (original) (raw)
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Between two thematic framing devices-Zechariah's announcement of John's vocation and Paul's description of his own vocation-Luke the Gospel Writer paints a vivid portrait of forgiveness as it plays itself out in ongoing and often astonishing interactions between God and God's people. Here then are the outlines of that portrait, in broad strokes and surprising colors, of "forgiveness" in the writings of Luke. "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins" (Luke 1:76-77). "But by refusing to be baptized by [John], the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves" (Luke 7:29-30). F orgiveness. This term lies at the heart of our Christian confession and has done so from earliest days. The ancient words of the Apostles' Creed put it very simply: "I believe. .. in the forgiveness of sins." In his introduction to this issue of Christian Reflection, Bob Kruschwitz states it as follows: "The Triune God loves us, offers us forgiveness, and seeks our reconciliation. This is the bedrock truth." But what does "forgiveness" mean? And who is the God who offers this to us and seeks reconciliation with a stubborn and sinful humanity? And what shape does such forgiveness take? What sorts of actions or