Matthew 18:15
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
Luke 7:44-47
Forgiving Others
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
John 15:13
Love and Relationships
13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Jesus taught us much about relationships, forgiveness, and about love...Relationships are very important to Jesus...Love is very important to Jesus...When He talks about a brother who sins against us, He is teaching us about forgiveness and the best way to go about mending that relationship...We are to go to them, and not anyone else...Sometimes, if not many times, bringing a new third party into a relationship may damage the friendship...He teaches that it is good to work things out just between the two of you...He even furthers this relationship and forgiveness teaching, by telling us to not only our neighbors but to love our enemies...He even tells us that there is no greater love than one to lay down there life for a good friend...
In any relationship over a period of time things do happen...Forgiveness must play a part in any short term or long term relationship, if one wants to keep in that relationship...Jesus teaches us about a forgiving brother, but He also teaches us to learn to forgive a lot...When we can only forgive a little, we can only love a little...But when we can forgive often and a lot, we open our hearts to even a larger loving relationship...
While short and new relationships are very good and healthy...We can look at longer term relationships, a little different...I would think most people think the people who have shared long and time-tested relationships are good...Time seems to test us in different ways...If a couple and family has survived this test of time together, (I think most people think) it is good to see that...And surviving is a part of the relationship...Long term relationships take effort and forgiveness...It seems that God created man and woman in His image, and He fully expected Adam and Eve to be together for a lifetime...I think that when people first get married and are together, we hope that those relationships work out for a long, long time...When we see long term relationships (I have heard) people say that these are the successful relationships...These people and their relationships have survived, the test of time...
Jesus death is and was all about relationships...Jesus laid down His life not only for His friends, but for everyone...Jesus died on the cross showing His love for all humanity...It seems that our time and our tears shed together, leave an everlasting memory in the heart, if we have learned to forgive and to love as Jesus teaches...