Forbearance

(From Forerunner Commentary)

Have we made forbearance a part of our character? We often think we are forbearing, and we may not be. The basic dictionary definition of forbearance is "refraining from the enforcement of something." Refraining from the enforcement of something could be a debt, a right we have, an obligation that has come due and needs to be paid, etc. This is a legal-sounding definition. The idea of forbearance arises in the Bible under different words. Forbearance could be explained as showing patience, even though a thing is owed to us. It is holding back or restraining the self from doing something that is normal to do. It is controlling oneself when provoked or offended. Its synonyms show us some of the nuances of forbearance: "patience," "leniency." Leniency does not mean that one allows something to continue. A more strict definition is that one does not give the full punishment for something or the full amount of something. You still exact justice, but it is not as harsh as it could be. Another synonym is "tolerance." There are levels of tolerance. One can tolerate a person and not tolerate what he has done. One could forbear with him while he is trying to repent. Another is "self-restraint," which is holding back the self from doing a thing that one may come to regret. Another synonym is "command of temper." Do we lash out when something happens, rather than control ourselves? "Endurance" and "longsuffering" are also synonymous to "forbearance." Even "clemency" can be used for "forbearance," as it occurs in the New King James at least once or twice. Yet another term is "mildness," suggesting that one is mild rather than harsh in judgment or reaction. Another synonym would be "mercy" or "merciful," as well as the word "pardon." All these are synonyms of forbearance that give us an idea, a glimpse, into how broad the application of forbearance is. Several Hebrew words are translated "forbear" or "forbearance" or "forbearing" in the Old Testament, but they all have similar meanings. They run from "to keep silent or to be still," "to stop or leave off doing something," "to withhold from," or "to spare another." Another means "to draw or to stretch out" or "to prolong," for instance, as in prolonging, drawing out, or stretching out another's period of grace to repay a debt. Another one means "to contain or hold in," as in self-restraint. One holds in what he feels like doing; he restrains himself from lashing out at another.

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