Forgive and You Shall Be Released
by: Addison Hubbard
November 12, 2025
“One Sabbath day while Jesus was teaching in the synagogue he encountered a seriously handicapped woman. She was crippled and had been doubled over for eighteen years. Her condition was caused by a demonic spirit of bondage that left her unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her condition, He called her to him and gently laid his hands on her. Then he said, “Dear woman, you are free. I release you forever from this crippling spirit. Instantly she stood straight and tall and overflowed with glorious praise to God!”
Have you ever heard of the word “APOLOU”? The Greek New Testament uses the word Apolou for forgiveness and release. In Luke 17:4, Jesus told His disciples to forgive. In Jonathan Cahn’s book, “The Book of Mysteries”, he writes about “The Power of Apolou”: The word interpreted as “forgive”, is the Greek word Apolou. When Pilate decided to release Barabbas from prison, behind the word release is the same word, Apolou. When Jesus saw a woman suffering from a condition that caused her to be crippled for eighteen years, Jesus touched her, and she was healed. When He said to her “you are loosed,”, it was the same word, Apolou. When the believers of Antioch sent forth Barnabus and Paul to begin their ministry to the world, behind the phrase “sent forth” is the same word, Apolou. (Paraphrased from The Book of Mysteries).
In the New Testament, Jesus speaks of forgiveness in very emphatic terms. Let me share just three. First: in Matthew 6:14- 15, Jesus says, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” We must forgive each other in order to be forgiven. Second in Matthew 18:21-22: “Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” This indicates that forgiveness should be a continuous and boundless act not limited by number. Third in Luke 23:34, Jesus forgave those who crucified Him, when He proclaimed, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” This shows an act of profound mercy that extends even to those who are hurting you. This links forgiveness to love and compassion, and most importantly, it helps us realize that Jesus died to empower us to love and forgive those that cause us pain.
Jesus died to empower us to love and forgive those that cause us pain, and yet many experience terrible pain of unforgiveness, and spend their lifetime reliving anger, hurt, betrayal and woundedness. By choosing not to forgive, you are partnering with the enemy’s schemes and tactics, instead of choosing to live in the blessings of God’s perfect love. You have authority over the enemy and his schemes. In Luke 10:19 Jesus says, “Behold, I give you all power and authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Recently, Erika Kirk forgave her husband’s killer in front of millions of people. This profound act of forgiveness whether done in private or public, is a testimony to the Holy Spirit’s work, power and influence; and has dynamite power to break the back of the enemy, because it shatters his lies and strongholds.
Jesus commanded us to forgive. Did you know that walking in unforgiveness is a sin that requires us to repent and turn away from the unforgiveness? Jesus desires nothing more than for us to repent of unforgiveness because “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us of our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) He wants to literally take our sins far from us. He promises in Psalms 103:12 that “As far from us as the east is to the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
Because we live in an imperfect world with imperfect people, people are going to hurt us, and we are likely going to hurt others at some point. So, we need to practice Apolou on a continual basis, just like we need others to practice Apolou toward us. Remember, Apolou means to forgive and release. If you don’t forgive, you will not be released. You will stay bound and imprisoned.
The same word speaks of healing. For sure an unforgiving soul is a diseased soul. Forgiveness is linked to healing, and the lack of forgiveness to the lack of healing. Those who cannot forgive, cripple themselves. Haven’t you read testimonies of some people that have experienced both inner and physical healing because they have forgiven and released the cancer of offense, anger, bitterness, and resentment?
Jonathan Cahn also notes that Apolou also speaks of moving on and being sent forth for the purposes of God. If you don’t forgive you will not be able to move on or to let go of the old. Nor will you be able to be sent forth and fulfill God’s calling for your life.
It is written, “forgive and you shall be forgiven.” It can also be translated as “forgive and you shall be released”. Forgive and you shall be healed. Let it go and you will be set free, release it and you yourself shall be released and you will be free to move on with your life and free to fulfill the calling for which you were born. Unforgiveness is a great burden that people choose to carry. By a simple act of faith, you can choose to forgive. You can choose to release that backpack of rocks off your back. By forgiving, you can release and drain out the poison from your soul. The choice is yours. God will help you if you step out in faith to forgive. That’s today’s Good News: release and you shall be released, loosed, freed, made whole and sent forth. Welcome to the power of Forgiveness!
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
We praise You and thank You for Jesus Christ who came to save us from our sins. We thank You that He came to give us life and life abundant. We praise You that He wants us healed and whole. We ask You to forgive us for our unforgiveness. We ask that Your Holy Spirit empower us to forgive others that have hurt us so that we might also be forgiven. What is loosed on earth is loosed in heaven. Thank You for forgiving us of our sins.
In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.
Worship: Forgiveness
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Have you ever heard of the word “APOLOU”? The Greek New Testament uses the word Apolou for forgiveness and release. In Luke 17:4, Jesus told His disciples to forgive. In Jonathan Cahn’s book, “The Book of Mysteries”, he writes about “The Power of Apolou”: The word interpreted as “forgive”, is the Greek word Apolou.