（馬太福音 Matthews 5: 23-24; 6:14）
耶穌為什麼一而再，再而三地論及寬恕和被寬恕，因為神極重視關係，而福音的核心信息，就是重建破碎的關係，先是神與人，然後是人與人。
人類的苦難除了來自於自然災害之外，大部份都是由於不健康的關係而產生的。我們常常因為關係的矛盾而受傷害和傷害別人，因此就生活得不快樂，也不能夠完成應該完成的事情。人生的意義就是在工作和人際關係上獲得滿足，而工作中的快樂，也常常跟人際關係有關。在種種的關係中，神與我們的關係是最重要的，也是最基本的。但有趣的是，神與我們的關係，卻會直接被我們跟別人的關係所影響！這就是為什麼耶穌要我們先跟人和好，才能與神有真正和好的關係。同樣地，我們如果要去愛神，就得首先去愛人（約壹4:20～21）。
耶穌更說，如果我們不能寬恕別人，或不尋求別人的寬恕，神就不悅納我們的敬拜（馬太福音5:23～24）。
寬恕和被寬恕都不容易，因為當中帶著許多情緒和自尊。我們也經驗過，不願意寬恕和不尋求被寬恕，會使我們生活得很不開心，甚至破壞我們的身、心、靈的健康。神希望我們活得快樂又豐盛，所以祂要我們去愛和寬恕。
經文默想
請你仔細地重讀文中所列出的經文，並默想其中的教導。請你作一個禱告，求聖靈幫助你去寬恕和尋求寬恕。
Why did Jesus talk about the issue of forgiving and being forgiven so many times? It’s because God is very serious about our relationship with him and also the core of the gospel is to rebuild broken relationships; first God and human beings, and then people to people.
Our sufferings come mostly from unhealthy relationships rather than from natural disasters. When we get hurt or when we hurt others in conflicting relationships, it makes us very unhappy and we are unable to function fruitfully. A meaningful life must come from the satisfactions of work and relationship. In fact, the joy of work is also affected by relationship. With all of our relationships, our relationship with God should be the most important and fundamental one. Interestingly enough, however, our relationship with God will be directly affected by our relationship with people! This is the reason that Jesus asks us to make peace with people first before God will make peace with us. Likewise, if we say we love God, let us first love our fellows (1 John 4:20~21).
Jesus even goes a step further, and says that if we choose not to forgive, or not to seek forgiveness, God will not be pleased by our act of worship (Matt 5:23~24).
It is not easy to forgive or to seek forgiveness, for it involves a lot of emotions and pride. However, we have all experienced at least once how miserable life can be if we choose to live with an unforgiving heart. This kind of unhappiness will destroy our health in body, soul, and spirit. God wants us to have a happy and abundant life, so He demands us to love and forgive.
Meditation on the Scripture:
Please read carefully the Bible verses listed in this article and meditate on their teachings. Please pray to the Holy Spirit for the strength to forgive and to seek forgiveness.
