Jump Start # 3973
Matthew 18:22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Throwback Thursday: an article written many years ago
Observations on Forgiveness
The NT teaches forgiveness. We have forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ. The Bible also teaches that not only that we should, but we MUST forgive one another (Eph 4:32). In fact, God is so emphatic about this, that if we refuse to forgive others, then God will not forgive us (Mt 6:15).
The apostle Peter asked the Lord how many times he should forgive a brother who sins against him. The Lord answered with, “I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven’ (Mt 18:22). Now there are some observations about the Lord’s statement that we should well note:
1. Jesus did not say that each sin had to be a different kind of sin. It may well be that the person repeats the same sin. Usually in such cases we reason, ‘I don’t think the person was really sorry, because he did the same thing again.’ That may be true in some situations. But we cannot put a restriction that the sins have to be different each time. The Lord did not say this. The person may well be weak in the flesh and the addicting nature of sin often is hard for a long time sinner to break.
2. Jesus did not say that these sins had to be ‘little sins.’ Simple sins like lying or gossiping or even bad attitudes we can easily muster the faith to forgive, even seventy times seven. But what about adultery? Stealing? These sins wreak havoc in the home and the church. It seems that among some brethren, certain sins are unforgivable. Again note the absence of any restrictions placed here by the Lord. He did not say, ‘If you suffered greatly or were even hurt physically or financially, then you do not have to forgive.” No Jesus did not say that.
3. Jesus did not indicate whether these sins occurred the same day, week, month or year. In Luke 17:4, the Lord said, ‘And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” Indeed, what a day that must have been! Can you imagine sinning against the same person seven times in the same day, and then repenting of each of those occurrences during that same day? Our forgiveness does not end because a person has multiplied their sin in a short period of time.
4. Jesus did not place any type of probation upon the repentant sinner. The person sinned against was to forgive the sinner and that is the extent of it. There is no trial period to see if it sticks– that is not forgiveness. There is no classifying as a “secondary citizen’ in the kingdom—that is not forgiveness. The person is to be treated and loved as the Lord illustrated in the parable of the prodigal son who came home to his father (Luke 15).
Forgiveness is not always easy to do. When you have been hurt by another, our reaction is to have nothing to do with them again. This is not what the Savior wants from His disciples. Let us all be characterized as people who can and will forgive.
Roger
August, 1992