21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” ~ Matthew 18:21-22
Jesus was just teaching on forgiveness. He said, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault. If he doesn’t listen, take one or two more. If he still doesn’t listen, tell it to the church, and if he still doesn’t listen, then treat him as you would a gentile or a tax collector.”
Then Peter gets this brilliant idea. Well, if he doesn’t listen to the church, then I can take matters into my own hands. So, he asked Jesus, “What is my limit to forgive? Is it seven times?” Peter’s probably thinking, “Yeah, it has to be seven times; on the eighth, I will draw my sword and chop off an ear.” But Jesus doesn’t agree with that logic. He says, “No, Peter, not seven times, but seventy-seven times seventy-seven times.”
In other words, Jesus is explaining that forgiveness is like love; it’s a debt that can never be repaid. If we are required to love even our enemies, then we have to forgive them first and foremost. Forgiveness is a prerequisite to love.
Dear LORD, please soften my heart. Please help me to forgive all who have hurt me. Help me to forgive all who have done me wrong. Help me not to remain a slave to the bondage of unforgiveness. Help me to love others the way You love them. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
Similar Content
