Understanding Forgiveness:
Binding & Loosing

Why study forgiveness alongside binding and loosing?

We often speak of forgiveness as releasing an offense. But what does Scripture actually say about binding and loosing? What is the relationship between entrusted authority, correction, debt, mercy, and our responsibility toward one another?

This study begins by examining binding and loosing in their Scriptural setting rather than assuming they are interchangeable with the language of forgiving a debt. It then considers Yahusha’s instruction to forgive and how the Ruah guides our understanding, desires, judgment, and conduct.

The offense may be real. Its consequences may remain. The instruction to forgive remains relevant, too.

Scripture first; inference identified

We examine the language and context of each passage before drawing connections. The words used for binding and loosing are not automatically identical to the words used for forgiving debt. Where we build a functional framework from several passages, we identify it as reasoned inference rather than presenting it as a separate Scriptural doctrine.

Our study follows the movement from language and context to understanding, reasonable inference, application, and conduct.

Three days of examination

What forgiveness does—and does not—require

• Forgiveness does not require denying the offense or pretending its consequences disappeared.
• Remembering hurt does not, by itself, establish unforgiveness.
• Appropriate boundaries and accountability may remain necessary.
• Neither person may use the other’s conduct to excuse wrongdoing of their own.
• Forgiveness may be extended by one person; reconciliation between two people requires participation from both.