Apoluo

“… Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” – Luke 6:37b

The Greek word interpreted in this text as forgive here is apoluo.  According to Strong’s definitions, apoluo means 1) to set free; 2) to let go, dismiss; 3) to let go free, release, to loose the bonds of someone held captive and bid him to depart, to acquit one accused of a crime and set them at liberty, t release a debtor and to remit the debt; 4) used of divorce, to dismiss from the house, to repudiate; 5) to send one’s self away, to depart.

In this text from Jesus, we are told to set free and we will be set free.  Regarding those who have intentional hurt us, purposefully sinned against us, and sought to do us harm either through intentional purposeful effort or at our expense to lift themselves higher, we are to set them free so we, who have done such spiritually towards God as is our nature, can be set free from our sins. 

In this text from Jesus, we are told to let go and we will be let go.  We are to let go of the actions and words that others have done against us, so we can be let go of the grip of sin in our life.  Set those free, let them go. 

In this text from Jesus, we are told to release and we will be released.  Release those who have hurt you, so you can be released from the jail of hate, bitterness, and sadness.  A handy prayer here is to pray for your memory.  Pray that God will help you to truly let go of the memory of the sins against you or from the sins you’ve done and been forgiven for, so you can be released from them.  Set them free, let them go, release them from you.

In this text from Jesus, we are told to loosen the bonds of those we hold captive and our bonds will be loosened.  Open the jail in your heart where you hold the hurtful actions hostage and you will become free as well.  Acquit them of their crime just as you are acquitted through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  Release them of their debt that they owe regarding the pain in your life mindful that you were released from your sin debt.

While we must be conscious always of the forgiveness of our sin in Jesus, we should also be mindful of the consequences of our actions towards others.  If we want to be forgiven by those whom we have hurt either intentionally or unintentionally, we must forgive, so we can be forgiven.  It isn’t just for us to expect to be forgiven, whether we want to be or not, and not be willing to forgive others.  Only a fool believes he has never hurt another.

In this text from Jesus, we are told to dismiss those from our house and we will be dismissed.  Setting free in our hearts those who have hurt us so deeply and caused us to experience pain that we didn’t know existed sets us free.  Forgiving them allows us to no longer be caged by that unforgiveness.  However, it doesn’t mean we are to become best friends or even casual acquaintances with them.  While I may work diligently daily to completely and totally forgive because I want to be free, I can also dismiss them from my house.  May they go and be free from my condemnation but live somewhere else.  Sometimes there are people that you just can’t have in your life.

In this text from Jesus, we are told to send ourselves away.  Let that grudge go; loosen the binds you have on those against who have hurt you; open the jail cell in your heart and release them.  Take a deep breath, take a hard swallow and settle it as best as you can in your heart right now.  Then, leave it there.  Go along your way.  Depart from that pit and live.