Forbearing one another
Not only bearing one another's burdens, and with one another's
weaknesses, but forbearing to render evil for evil, or railing
for railing, or to seek revenge for affronts given, in whatsoever
way, whether by words or deeds:
and forgiving one another;
all trespasses and offences, so far as committed against
themselves, and praying to God to forgive them, as committed
against him:
if any man have a quarrel against any;
let him be who he will, high or low, rich or poor, of whatsoever
age, state, or condition, and let his quarrel or complaint be
what it will, ever so great, or ever so just and well founded,
yet let him put up with it, and forgive it:
even as Christ forgave you,
so also do ye; what God is said to do for Christ's sake, (See
Gill on
Ephesians 4:32), what here Christ is said to do: as
Mediator, he has procured the remission of sins by the shedding
of his blood; and as God he forgives sins freely, fully,
forgetting the injuries done, not upbraiding with former
offences, and that too without asking, and before there is any
appearance of repentance; and so should the saints forgive one
another, as they expect to have an application and manifestation
of forgiveness to themselves.