Guilt is defined as “a feeling of having done wrong or failed in an obligation.”  There are some people who seem to be able to do wrong and never feel any guilt or remorse at all. They can’t ask for forgiveness or show any signs of wanting to make amends.

Most of us are more conscious of hurting others. We sincerely want to do the right thing; and though we may have difficulty apologizing, we find the courage to say those three all-important words—“I am sorry.” Sometimes the realization of wrongdoing is there, maybe even regret; but the courage to admit wrong and make it right is absent. Sometimes it is fear of the results, and sometimes it is an attitude of feeling the person we have wronged deserves what they get.

For those who truly try to do the right thing, hurting someone and then recognizing that hurt can leave one with a sense of remorse, deep life-changing regret. Such was the case with Peter when he denied the Lord. Three times he denied Christ, even saying he did not know the man. When he saw Jesus had overheard his denial of Him, he ran away and wept.

Later, we read the conversation between Jesus and Peter on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had prepared breakfast for the disciples shortly after His resurrection. There He confronted Peter three times with the question, “Do you love me?” Each time, Peter assured Jesus that he did. This was Peter’s chance to make things right. His life following this serves as an example of true repentance and a changed life.

Peter stood on the day of Pentecost ( Acts 2) and proclaimed the truth about Jesus, His death, burial, and resurrection, and a clear message to the Jews about salvation. He wanted them to repent, and they did. They interrupted his sermon to ask what they needed to do to be saved. Three thousand of them repented, confessed their sins, and were baptized. Once again, we see changed lives.

Judas wasn’t so willing to face his guilt. After turning Jesus over to the soldiers, he realized that this was going to end badly. He went to the priests and elders and proclaimed his sin to them. He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4). They didn’t care. They had what they wanted, and they told him his sin was no concern of theirs. Judas then went out and hanged himself. He didn’t wait to see what would happen. He just committed suicide.

Perhaps one of the most stirring examples of guilt is found in Luke 23. Jesus was hanging on the cross, and on either side of Him were thieves. They had also received the sentence of death. They must have known something of Jesus and His teachings, because one of them said, “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” The other thief rebuked him and declared that they were receiving what they deserved, but this man (Jesus) had done nothing wrong. Because of the declaration that he had sinned and had obviously repented, Jesus promised the thief that he would be with Him in paradise.

There are others in Scripture that felt guilt that, as far as we know, did not make it right. Pilate certainly felt some measure of guilt when he washed his hands and turned Jesus over to the mob. The rich young ruler was another guilty soul after refusing to sell his possessions and follow Jesus. The other disciples would surely have felt guilt for running away when Jesus was arrested. The man caught in adultery with his father’s wife must have repented because of Paul’s condemnation (First Corinthians 5). It is later inferred that he was once again in fellowship with the church (Second Corinthians 2).

Forgiveness plays a huge role in the reaction to guilt. In Matthew 18, Peter asked Jesus how many times one should forgive his brother. Peter offered the number seven as a suitable number of times to forgive. Jesus, however, told him seventy times seven. Forgiveness is important to God. It is important because He is so willing to forgive us when we repent, but His forgiveness of us depends on how we forgive others. Remember what Jesus said when He was teaching the disciples to pray. He said, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” He also said, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:12, 14).

When we have those feelings of guilt and remorse for something we have done, we need to repent and ask for forgiveness—from God and from the one we have hurt. When someone has hurt us, and they come to us sorry for what they have done, we need to forgive them. Even if they don’t acknowledge what they have done, we should forgive them. Show them the kind of love Jesus showed to all mankind.

Sandra Oliver