Let It Go: Forgiveness How God’s Mercy Toward Us Helps Us Forgive Others

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Let It Go: Forgiveness

How God’s Mercy Toward Us Helps Us Forgive Others

By Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

출처 https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/let-it-go-forgiveness/

듣기 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mIzxHIBlA0

Have you ever been in a fight with somebody //who had no mercy?

When I was in prep school, I got /into a fight /with a guy /in my dorm room.

He said something racist, and since I was a big-mouthed wise guy from Brooklyn,

I relayed /to him [how ignorant he was].

He beat the living daylights out of me.

If my friends hadn’t come and pulled him off me, I might not have lived to write this.

He had no mercy.

Jesus, in His first sermon, said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7, NIV).

The Bible from Genesis to Revelation is always touching /on this thought that God is full of mercy.

The word “mercy” speaks /of pity and compassion /toward someone //who is suffering,

even if the suffering is the person’s own fault.

With God, it means [not giving us the punishment () we deserve].

This is one of the qualities about God //that makes us love Him so much.

Mercy shows God’s outstanding character.

The false Greek, Roman, and Israelite gods had zero mercy.

They were full of vengeance.

But the Old Testament prophet Micah said,

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?

You do not stay angry /forever /but delight to show mercy” (Micah 7:18, NIV).

When I was growing up, I heard people say, “You made your bed; now sleep in it.”

While there’s some truth in that statement, thank God that He’s not like that.

He delights /in mercy.

Is that not amazing?

In fact, salvation through Jesus Christ is based /on God’s mercy:

“God so loved the world . . .” (John 3:16, NIV).

God could have said /to us,

“What, you don’t want to obey My law? You’re not thankful for everything () I give you?

Okay, you’re gone.” (* you’re gone. = You're finished.)

No.

He had pity. Compassion. Mercy.

This characteristic is needed /today for the Christian church /to stand out in an unmerciful world.

People around us say, “You disagree with me? You’re a devil.”

But God delights in saying, “I’ll help you. Let’s forget [what you did] /through the blood of Jesus Christ.”

Is that not the most refreshing thing () you can think of?

That’s why the Bible tells [us] [to show mercy to others] (see James 2:13).

I once heard [a preacher] [talk about how a guy had stolen his daughter away and gotten her pregnant.

This man was pastoring a church but became so focused /on the guy /that he was paranoid

and full of vengeance in his heart.

He told the congregation, “I couldn’t preach /for months /until God showed me,

‘How are you going to show [My love] /to the people /when you have no mercy toward that person? Forgive him.’”

He broke down /while telling the story.

I broke down.

The congregation broke down—it was Kleenex time.

We all knew that feeling—we want to get back at others /when they’ve hurt us.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

But [the mercy of God //that made our salvation possible] inspires [us] [to show mercy every single day].

Remember, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

As Jesus also said, “With the measure () you use, it will be measured /to you” (Luke 6:38, NIV).

Jesus told a parable about a man //who was going to settle accounts with his servants.

One servant owed [him] [$850,000].

The man told the servant, “I need the money.

Don’t give [me] [a story]. I’ll go /to the library /for a story.” (소설 쓰지 마라. 소설을 읽기 원하면 도서관에 간다)

The guy said, “No, listen, I’m really down. My kid has a debilitating disease, and my wife and I were short.

Please don’t put me /in jail. They need me.”

So the boss had compassion. He had mercy. He let [it] [go] (see Matthew 18:23–27).

Isn’t [that] [the story of all our lives]?

God had pity and mercy on us and said, “I’ll forgive you for Christ’s sake.

Give [your life] /to My Son, and I’ll be happy to show you mercy.”

But the story doesn’t end /there.

[The servant //who had been forgiven] saw [a man () he knew] and said,

“Hey, I haven’t seen you /for months. You owe [me] [eighty-five dollars]. I need the money now.”

The man said, “Please, you don’t know [what’s happened].”

“Listen, I don’t like excuses. I need the money.”

And the servant had [the man] [put in jail].

When the boss heard /about it, he said,

“What? You couldn’t show mercy and forgive that guy for eighty-five dollars /after I forgave [you] [a huge amount]?”

(see Matthew 18:28–35).

When we don’t show mercy, do you think () we hurt the people () we don’t forgive?

No, we hurt ourselves.

Some of us have nervous, emotional, and physical manifestations /because we’re holding on to [offenses].

* holding on to = holding tightly. 

God delights in mercy.

Come on, let’s be people //who delight in mercy.

I’ve counseled people () I want to cry over //who are wrecking their lives /because they won’t let go.

They’re going to remember offenses /until the day () they die.

What a sad way to live.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me /all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6, NKJV),

and we’re going to show God’s mercy /every single day /in every way () we can.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for showing us endless mercy /when we least deserve it.

Search our hearts today, and clear away [any bitterness, grudges, or offenses () we might be holding on to.

Give [us] [the strength /to let go and extend Your free, full forgiveness /to others /every single day].

If this encouraged you, you can receive Pastor Cymbala’s weekly blog post by email here.

For More Encouragement

• Listen to the full message of this blog post by Pastor Jim Cymbala: “Let It Go (Forgiveness)”
• Be encouraged with other messages from Pastor Cymbala: “A Touch from Jesus” and “When Christians Sin”
• At the Brooklyn Tabernacle, we want to pray with you. Submit your request on our “Prayer” page
• Visit Pastor Cymbala’s Facebook page

* 문장분석 기호 및 방법 설명

1. 볼드체 ; 조동사, 동사 및 소사인 전치사 전부를 볼드체 하여 동사구임을 표시함

  might be holding on to, clear away,  won’t let go, are going to show, had been forgiven

2. [괄 호] ; 명사/구/절 등 문장의 기본 요소인 주어, 보어, 목적/간직목, 목보 등을 [괄호]로 묶어 구분하나

  주어나 보어, 목적 등이 명백히 구별되는 경우는 생략함 ; If this encouraged you, We all knew that feeling

 [The servant //who had been forgiven] saw [a man () he knew]  주어와 목적인 명사구

  Isn’t [that] [the story of all our lives]? 주어+보어, 1 형식 구조 (미국식)

  the boss heard /about it, 주어+자동사, 2 형식 구조

  we want [to pray with you]. 주어+동사+목적, 3 형식 구조,  we’re holding on to [offenses]. 타동사구+목적

  owe [me] [eighty-five dollars]. 4 형식 구조

  tells [us] [to show mercy to others], had [the man] [put in jail]. 5 형식 구조

  I relayed /to him [how ignorant he was].  목적인 의문사절

3. (소괄호) ; 문장에서 생략된 부분을 표시함

   [The servant //who had been forgiven] saw [a man (that) he knew] 

  do you think (that)  we hurt the people (who/whom) we don’t forgive?

  /until the day (that) they die.

4. 오랜지색 ; 일반동사처럼 보이나 형용사 역할인 현/과분사를 색칠하여 준동사 역할임을 표시함

  Is that not amazing?, My kid has a debilitating disease 능동상태 설명인 형역 현분사,

  Be encouraged with other message, a big-mouthed wise guy, became so focused 수동상태 설명인 형역 과분사, 

* 준동사는 동사적 성격이라 동사처럼 보이지만 문장 구조상의 역할은 동사가 아닌 명/형/부 역할을 하는 동사변형임

  명/형/부 역할인 부정사구나, 명사 역할인 동명사는 구별이 쉽지만  형용사 역할인 분사는 진행이나 수동태로 보임

  Blessed are the merciful, you’re gone. 수동태로 보이는 형역 과분사

  Is that not amazing?, Mercy shows God’s outstanding character. 진행형으로 보이는 형역 현분사

5. /, //, 빗금과 쌍빗금

빗금은 부사나 부사적 수식어인 전치사구나 부사절을 구분함 /until the day (that) they die.

  so focused /on the guy /that he was paranoid, /when you have no mercy toward that person   부사절

쌍빗금은 형용사절을 구분함  [The servant //who had been forgiven] 명+형절