The Parable of the Prodigal Son
In the parableA story told by Jesus through which he teaches and illustrates moral lessons and principles. of the Prodigal Son, the father forgives his son when he returns and welcomes him home. In the same way, God waits for humans to realise what they have done wrong and ask for forgiveness and welcomes them back when they do. It is the willingness to ask for forgiveness and change one's behaviour that is central to the idea of forgiveness.
In the same way that God forgives humans, so humans have to forgive those around them. If people fail to do so, they cannot expect to be forgiven by God.
If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done.
The Lord's Prayer
This same teaching is reflected in the Lord's Prayer - Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
It is also not enough to forgive just once. Jesus says in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant that it is not enough simply to forgive someone seven times,
but seventy time seven
(Matthew 18:21-22) which implies as often as is needed.
Forgiving someone when they have caused harm or pain is a difficult thing to do, but in the Gospels Jesus sets an example. Jesus forgave those who crucified him, Jesus said, 'Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing.'
(Luke 23:34). This act of forgiveness shows that any act can be forgiven. In Johnâs Gospel (20:21-23) Jesus tells the apostles that those sins that they forgive are forgiven, and those sins that they do not forgive will not be forgiven.