Forgiving Seventy Times Seven

I wonder what Peter had in mind when he came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”

“No, not seven times,” Jesus told him, “but seventy times seven!" (Matthew 18:21,22)

Was Peter at odds with one of the others who were also followers of Jesus? That seems quite possible to me, for Peter was not noted for refinement and gentle conversation. And where did he get the idea that seven occasions of forgiveness would fulfill his obligation? Was it perhaps from the Old Testament laws that prescribed the sacrificial blood, or oil, or water to be sprinkled seven times? Or had he at an earlier time heard Jesus say, "If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it's personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, 'I'm sorry, I won't do it again,' forgive him." (Luke 17:3-4 MSG) Whatever the reason for his question, Jesus gave him an answer that implies, "Stop counting! Just forgive."

To me, it does not seem likely that we will be faced with someone repeating the same hurtful action seven times in one day and apologizing each time for it. (The unrepentant offender is a whole different problem, and in another Scripture, Jesus instructs us how to handle that also.) But what's more apt to happen is our hitting the "replay" button and going over the incident again and again until our mind is muddled and our insides are churning with emotion. Then is the time to ask, "How often must I forgive?"

How often does the remembrance of the hurt come? Forgive that many times.

How often do you think, "But he/she didn't even apologize." Forgive each time.

How often does some anger, righteous and justifiable anger—oh, of course!—surge up? When it does, forgive again.

How often do you wish God would pay them back since He doesn't allow you personally to get even? Forgive, and just go on.

The greatest incentive to forgiving until I've lost count? Jesus isn't keeping track of my failures and blunders and the hurts I've caused Him. "Love keeps no record of being wronged." "Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." (I Corinthians 13:5; Ephesians 4:32 NLT)

MaryMartha

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved. Scripture marked MSG is taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/