SEVEN TIMES?SEVEN TIMES?

My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your hearts. Matthew 18:35

I would like to consider myself a patient person, but if the truth were known I probably get irritated with people much too quickly. The disciple Peter, in an effort to quantify forgiveness, asked if the threshold for his patience was granting forgiveness seven times. He probably assumed that this was exceptionally gracious of him and so was no doubt shocked at Jesus’ answer. “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (v. 22) Jesus then proceeds to further correct Peter’s thinking by means of illustration. A slave who owes an infinite debt is forgiven it all by the king. However, instead of showing that same kind of forgiveness, the slave throws his fellow slave in prison for a much smaller debt that he owed him. In response to this unmerciful act, the king sentences the first slave to torturers until the debt is repaid.

Don’t miss the point of what Jesus is saying. Because of what Jesus did on the cross for you, you have been forgiven a debt that you could never repay. Now in response to that you are to grant forgiveness to those around you. “Graciously forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord graciously forgave you, so also should you.” (Colossians 3:13) Has your spouse said something hurtful to you today? Forgive. Did that family member offend you again? Forgive. Did your coworker, boss, or neighbor do that thing again that really irritates you? Forgive again and again. Seven times is not enough.

Philip Moeller