Seventy Times Seven

Matthew 18: 21 – 22

The Peter came and said to Him, “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.”

We all know that we are supposed to forgive all who act against us. This passage reflects one of the really difficult situations in which we find ourselves sometimes. This is the case that the same nut head keeps on sinning against us. I can well feel Peter’s pain here. It was really hard to forgive the guy the first time and now he has gone and done something heinous again. How many times, Lord, must I turn my guts inside out for this guy who just abuses me at every single opportunity? Well, Jesus’ point here was not only seventy times seven. His real point is that you should forgive him every single time he does something against you. Jesus must have thought that by the time we have forgiven someone 490 times, we might have the idea. Sometimes you have someone who is just a thorn in your flesh. Keep on forgiving. Don’t get discouraged. You are becoming more like your Dad every time you struggle through that forgiveness battle. Soon, way before you go through it 490 times, you will have a revelation on how you can keep your peace even when that person is around. And pray for him. God can change him and the more you pray for him, hopefully the sooner he will change.