Once again, Peter has asked the question that many have pondered.
“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?”
Jesus had spoken on this subject when He taught the disciples about
prayer and there He stressed that everyone’s forgiveness from God is
dependent on our willingness be forgiving. Matthew 6:9-15
Jesus made it very clear through His lifestyle and teaching that
forgiveness is a big part of God’s plan for man.
So why did Peter have this question about how much and how often? Why
did he ask is “seven times” satisfactory? Some advocate that this was
the amount that the Jews had established in their law. But was “seven
times” acceptable to the Lord?
Jesus quickly let Peter know that it was not His plan or will to puts
limits on forgiveness. As a matter of fact He had Peter do a little
multiplication.
“I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”
Jesus raised the standard amount from seven to four hundred and
ninety. This is a lot more then seven, but is this what Jesus has in
mind? Is it the Lord’s will that we keep track of the number of times
we forgive someone and if they cross the line we stop forgiving? What
if God did the same to us?
Jesus is not setting limitations on forgiveness! The good shepherd has
come to lead us into compassion and goodwill for one another and
through His example we can see that forgiveness has a huge part in
God’s plan of salvation.
Jesus doesn’t want us to be callused and hard. He wants us to be
understanding. He wants us to pray for others and them to pray for us
so we will all find forgiveness.
So how much forgiveness should we be willing to extent to one another?
How much has God extended to you? John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 John 1:5-10
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