If You Do Not Forgive Your Brother

Prof. Bruce shows us the importance of having a forgiving spirit and explains that an unforgiving spirit is evidence of a lack of gospel grace.

Summary: Setting the context — “seventy times seven” — Genesis 4:24 — the gospel, a message of forgiveness — Jesus’ parable — His lesson from the parable — Would God revoke a pardon that he had once granted? — the necessity of a forgiving spirit — “debt” and “sin” — forgiveness, a matter of grace — another parable, another aspect.

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Frederick Fyvie Bruce (1910 – 1990), was Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis at the University of Manchester. He was born in Elgin, northern Scotland, and was educated at the University of Aberdeen, Cambridge University and the University of Vienna. He wrote over thirty books and served as editor of The Evangelical Quarterly. He retired from teaching in 1978.

Bruce was a distinguished scholar, best known for his book, Paul, Apostle of the Heart Set Free He also wrote commentaries on Gospel of John, Acts, 1 & 2 Corinthians, and the Epistle to the Hebrews.

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This article first appeared in Hard Sayings of Jesus. (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1983). It is reproduced here, lightly edited (with summary) exclusively for the Krapf Project by permission of F.F. Bruce Copyright International, Nashville, Tennessee, USA and Bath, England.