Marcos 11

Marcos 11

Morgan - Whensoever ye stand praying, forgive.—Mark 11.25. That is a law of prayer. May it not be that much unanswered prayer is the result of forgetting this? Forgetting is the right word. If we remember it, we either cease to pray, or we forgive. It is impossible to pray easily when the heart is hot and angry with someone who has done us wrong. But in the underlying depths of our consciousness there are often feelings toward others which are those of resentment, even though at the moment we are not occupied with them. If it be so, then, according to this word of Jesus we have no right to expect that our Father will forgive us our trespasses. Let us think what it would mean if we always remembered this word. If we did so, our first inquiry whenever we desired to pray would be: Is there any person whom we have not yet forgiven? Of course, the presupposition is that the person has really wronged us in some way. Apart from that there would be nothing to forgive. Is there such a person? Then, before we can pray, we must forgive that person. Then, after we have 'prayed, we shall have to carry out our act of forgiveness by seeking the forgiven person, and establishing the relationship that results from forgiveness. What gracious results would follow in the communion of the saints if this word of Jesus were remembered and obeyed? Love would win wonderful triumphs, and prayer would become powerful and prevailing. (Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible) Forgiveness First "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."—Mark 11:25 John Wesley, the English evangelist and founder of the Methodist Church, met an acquaintance on the street one day. "I heard that you and Mr. So-and-so have become enemies," said Wesley. "Have you come to terms with him?" "No, I haven't," the friend replied. "Why should I? He's the one who should be blamed. I'll never forgive him for I am the one who was hurt." Looking directly into the man's eyes, Wesley said, "Then you should never again commit sin. I don't think you can say you have never committed a sin. You have so far because somebody has forgiven your faults. But if you say that you don't want to forgive someone who has wronged you, from now on don't expect to be forgiven by anyone else either." At this, the man lowered his head and repented bitterly of his faults. Christ was so broken by our sin that He left His heavenly home to come to us and offer forgiveness. If someone has hurt you and there is a broken relationship, in prayer ask Christ to give you the strength to forgive. Then contact that person and let them know you miss them and want to restore the friendship. "He who cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself."—George Herbert (Peter Kennedy - From Generation to Generation) Mark 11:26 "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions." NET NOTE: A number of significant MSS of various texttypes (a B L W D Y 565 700 892 pc sa) do not include 11:26 "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your sins." The verse is included in most later MSS (A [C D] Q [¦(1, 13 )33] Û lat) and is not likely to be original. It is probably an assimilation to Matt 6:15. The present translation follows NA(27 )in omitting the verse number, a procedure also followed by a number of other modern translations.