Matthew 18 - Forgiveness...

“Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven...” (verses 21-22)


Peter asked Jesus a pretty good question. He asked how many times he should forgive someone that sins against him. I imagine he probably felt like he was being pretty gracious by suggesting “till seven times?” Jesus' answer probably blew him out of the water! Seventy times seven? “But I'll forget what number I'm at before I get that high!” One time at work, I remembered a coworker telling me that she's had enough of a certain person. She said something to the effect of she's getting close to forgiving him 490 times. I was thinking, “Are you serious?” Talk about missing the point. We are to love others as God has loved us. Can you imagine God making tick marks next to our name every time He forgives us? Of course not! If we expect God to forgive us time and time again, then shouldn't we do the same for others? God takes our relationship to others pretty seriously...


“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)


When you think about this passage, is there somebody who comes to mind? Somebody whom you have not forgiven or somebody whose forgiveness you have not sought? God is more concerned with you getting right with them then he is all of your sacrifice. Obedience is better than sacrifice. We ought to offer our lives as a living sacrifice unto the Lord.


This topic of forgiveness will never make sense to you until you know the grace of God. You will never understand how to graciously forgive someone else until you have been graciously forgiven by God. Many people justify their own actions rather than acknowledge their sin, confess it before God, and ask his forgiveness. God is faithful and just to forgive your sins if you will confess them before Him and rest your faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.