Forgive Offenders

Then Peter came up to him and* said, “Lord, how many times will my brother sin against me and I will 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

Good morning from the Panhandle. What a difference a day makes here in Oklahoma, yesterday rain and then blowing snow; today the sun is out and temps are headed up. For those who don't know about Oklahoma weather there is an old saying, “If you don't like the weather just wait a minute it'll change.” Like the change of weather in Oklahoma, when we except Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour we are called to change. One of those changes is in the area of forgiveness. Where as before we became a Christ Follower when someone wronged us we wanted to get even, to retaliate, but now we are told to forgive them. 

So come on in grab a seat and let's open our Bibles and do a little surfing.

Here in Chapter 7, Matthew records some of Christ Jesus’ teaching about relationships. The disciples were the beginning of a new community, a community of Christ Followers. They were to have the highest consideration and care for one another.¹

The nature of forgiveness is a most important, if not the most important aspect of reconciling grace. Forgiveness is hardly ever easy; it is hard. It is one of the most difficult thing in the universe. Forgiveness means that the forgiving person as the “injured party” deals with their own anger over the wrong done to them and lets the guilty person go free. For those who don't know Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour that isn't their typical response. For those of us who do know Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour as hard as it is it must be our first response especially when a brother or sister in Christ is involved.

To forgive means that one genuinely loves, and this love can move beyond the issue and to the person. It means that one cares more about the person than about what he or she has done. Forgiveness liberates. Forgiveness frees the person for the options of living. To refuse to forgive in a way puts you at the mercy of the one who wronged you, even if they don't exploit it.

True forgiveness is always a relationship, hence the condition of repentance. A person must sincerely ask for forgiveness and the other person must fully forgive. This is reconciliation. But here's the kicker, if you ask for forgiveness and they don't forgive you that is on them; you can live your life guilt free. This also applies if the roles are reversed whether the one who wrongs you asks for forgiveness you can still forgive them and be done with the incident; again guilt free. I don't know about you but to not have to live with any kind of guilt sounds good to me.

till seven times?—In Peter's question he goes beyond the rabbinic rule of three times and extends it to seven. This being the sacred and complete number, perhaps Peter was asking, “Is there to be a limit at which the need to forgive will be fulfilled?”

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.—in other words, we are to forgive as long as forgiveness is needed and sought: you are never to come to the point of refusing forgiveness sincerely asked for ~ "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, `I repent,' forgive him." (Luke 17:3b-4).² With His answer Christ Jesus taught that forgiveness is qualitative, not quantitative³

Hey thanks for dropping by. I pray now that our Lord and Saviour would richly bless you and yours.

Until next time,

Biblesurfer

1 Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide (1st Augsburg books ed., p. 426). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.

2 Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 50). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

3 Augsburger, M. S., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Matthew (Vol. 24, p. 18). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.