Seventy Times Seven

Very few things in life are more powerful or liberating than forgiveness. To be forgiven by God & others & extend the same is a blessed way to live.

Seventy Times Seven

"Then Peter came to Him and said, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'"

(Matthew 18:21-22)

Very few things in this life are more powerful or liberating than forgiveness. To be forgiven by God and others and then extend that same forgiveness is a blessed way to live our lives as we sojourn on this earth. This week, we will explore this grand topic of forgiveness.

Our primary verses will come from our Lord's parable about the man who was forgiven so much but failed to forgive, by comparison, even a little. The story is so powerful and graphic that it really needs little expounding upon; the one main point leaps out at the reader.

In Matthew 18:21-22, the Apostle Peter asks Jesus a question about forgiveness. Well, it was a question and a bit of a statement as well. The question was, how often shall he forgive someone who wrongs him? He then answers his question with what he thought was surely a good answer: seven times. It was customary to forgive an offender 3 times, so Peter, knowing this, more than doubles his offer and suggests seven times (the number of completion).

But the Lord answered Peter's question and gave him a valuable lesson on the topic. Jesus basically said to Peter, no, not just seven times. But then Jesus adds these powerful words: "seventy times seven." The answer to the math question is 490, but that is not the point Jesus is making. He is telling Peter, no matter how many times you are done wrong, you must choose to forgive. Every single time.

You might think to yourself that this is impossible. You simply do not have it in you to keep forgiving someone even though they mistreat you. But you can do it—not by your power or strength but by the power of Jesus living in you. Philippians 4:13 tells us we can do all things through Christ. He is the one who strengthens us. We do not muster up the strength to forgive; rather, we lean into our great God who gives the power to do the impossible.

We will talk a lot about forgiveness this week, but one more point for today: To forgive someone does not mean you condone what has happened to you. Nor does it mean you are to stay in an environment where you are going to be harmed. Common sense says forgive, and then move on!