How Many Times

Peter, wishing to appear especially forgiving and benevolent, asked Jesus if forgiveness was to be offered seven times. By offering more than double that of the Old Testament teachings, perhaps Peter expected extra commendation from the Lord. When Jesus responded that forgiveness should be offered four hundred and ninety times, far beyond that which Peter was proposing, it must have stunned the disciples who were listening. Although they had been with Jesus for some time, they were still thinking in the limited terms of the law, rather than in the unlimited terms of grace. 

By saying we are to forgive those who sin against us seventy times seven, Jesus was not limiting forgiveness to an exact number. We are to have forgiving hearts not limited by the number of times we forgive and extending as much grace the thousandth time we as we do the first. Such forgiveness seems impossible, but as believers the Holy Spirit lives within us enabling us to have a forgiving spirit. And although we are called to live in the spirit of forgiveness, this is not a call to remain in unhealthy situations or relationships; healthy boundaries sometimes need to be drawn even as we forgive. There will be situations, circumstances and people that are harder to forgive than others, and there will be times we struggle to let go of repeated wrongdoings against us. It is in those times we need to cling to God for peace and strength to forgive because forgiveness is not to be distributed in a limited fashion; it is to be abundant, overflowing, and available to all, just as the measureless grace of God is poured out upon us.

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Lord, teach me how to freely grant forgiveness out of a deeply rooted gratitude for Your forgiveness of me. Remind me it is not a feeling or an emotion; it is a decision. And sometimes it is a decision I will have to make repeatedly. Give me the strength to forgive, enabling me to share the fullness of your love with others. Amen.