Forgivness and Pardon

.
........As we have been studying Matthew 5:7 and mercy, our family has also been looking at forgiveness and pardon. Those are both ways of showing mercy. Before we started this study, I did not really think about the difference between the words forgiveness and pardon, and if asked, I would have said they were the same. In fact, there is quite a difference between the two!
........Forgiveness is releasing the person or party that wronged you from bitterness or hatred in your own heart. It is coming to a place of letting go anything that you might hold against them personally. Forgiveness can be given in any and every circumstance. Pardon, on the other hand, is physically freeing the person from their debt, either money or otherwise. Pardon can only be granted by those in authority.
........For example, if someone stole $5,000 from you, you could forgive them but you could not pardon them, at least not without going through the authorities. They are responsible to the state, not you. You could, however, go to court with them and talk to the judge and request to pay part or all of the debt.
........Another interesting thing we discussed was that pardon can be given without forgiveness, and forgiveness can be extended without pardon. It is much easier, however, to pardon if you have forgiven. Pardon is for those in authority, but God says we must forgive others whenever they wrong us. If we do not, God will not forgive us.
........Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. --Ephesians 4:32
.