Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22)
Seventy-seven times? Really? Even if your kids disobey constantly? Even if someone hurts your feelings again and again?
Yup. That’s the deal. No matter how hard it is. No matter how many times it happens.
My book club just finished reading the book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, where the main character marries a prostitute and has to forgive her over and over for leaving him to go back to her former lifestyle. There were several characters in the book that simply didn’t understand why he didn’t just give up on her, especially after the first couple of times. I’ll be honest, there were a few times where I wanted to agree…I don’t know if I could have been so forgiving.
But then…I kept reading in Matthew, where Jesus tells a parable to go along with Peter’s question:
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.” (Matthew 18: 23 – 30)
I have heard this story since I was a kid…it even was on a “Donut Man” video that we watched umpteen times, but recently, our pastor gave me a new perspective. The picture he painted was that the amount the servant owed – 10,000 talents – was more than the man would ever be able to repay, even in 20 lifetimes. For him to forgive such a tremendous debt was unthinkable…like winning the lottery. Then, he explained that when the servant turned around and shook down his fellow servant for 100 denarii…a few month’s worth of wages…significant, but compared to what just happened to him, just a drop in the bucket.
How could he not pass on the forgiveness that was shown to him? Our pastor made the point that he didn’t remember how much he owed…it was like he turned around and immediately forgot that five minutes earlier he was about to sell himself and his family into slavery to repay the debt. It seems inconcievable, right?
But I think that sometimes I act the same way. I forget the significance of the forgiveness that I have recieved for my sins. I forget how much I owed…for my hostility, for my selfishness, for my self-righteousness, for the encouragement I didn’t give, for the person I ignored, for the excuses I give for my behavior…it may not be any of the “Big 10”, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need forgiveness. And when I think about how many times I do the same thing over and over again? It’s a miracle that God doesn’t give up on me!
Such a powerful reminder, not only to be thankful for the forgiveness I have received, but also to share that forgiveness with others. To give people the benefit of the doubt, to not question their motives, to forgive willingly instead of begrudgingly, to not hold a grudge, and to not keep bitterness in my heart. God does all these things and more for me, and I must do the same…it is a requirement, not an option…
What a great reminder! I have to constantly forgive a few people in my family every time I see them and I need to be encouraged to keep doing it! It is hard but it is what God commands us to do! Thanks for sharing so openly!