Forgiveness is something we need to teach, model, and rehearse.

Part 2

Yesterday:  How Often Should I Forgive Someone?

“Then came Peter to him, and said.”
Like Peter, when we have a question, we take it to the Lord and His Word.

“Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?”
Is there a limit on my forgiveness?…

 

Today:  Forgiveness is to be Given and Received

“Till seven times?”
Peter has boiled forgiveness down to a number that can be checked off a list.

“I’ve forgiven you this many times ( 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ), sorry, that’s one time too many, no more forgiveness for you!”

No doubt Peter has been thinking concerning what he has heard the Jewish leaders teach about forgiveness.  “The Jewish rule [Rabbinical rule] was three times” (Robertson).  This was after Jehovah’s example (Amos 1:6).

Peter’s number of seven times to forgive a brother seems generous.  In fact, isn’t seven the number of times Jesus taught the men to forgive?  Jesus said,

“Take heed to yourselves:  If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.  And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him” (Luke 17:3-4).

Peter remembered the number, but he missed Jesus’ point.  There is a heart issue involved here.  The loving brother wants to go help his sinning brother do what is right.  Indeed, Jesus wants His child to go and deal with sin and forgiveness issues when he or she sees them.

When I have been sinned against, I must go.

“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone:  if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother” (Matthew 18:15).

Or, when I have sinned against my brother, I must go.

“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee [“someone has something against you”];[1]  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).

The point here is that whichever brother knows there is a problem, needs to be the one to initiate dealing with the issue.  This way the problem will not be ignored.  It is not a matter of counting times or checking off the list.  We cannot just sit idly and let issues between us fester!  Jesus’ teaching will not allow this.  Our loving obedience to Jesus’ Word is a must.  “Seven times” does not fit the criteria for dealing with sin issues.  It may only take “two times” or it could take more than seven times to help our brother make the right choices.  The point is, we are willing to go and work with our brother.

Peter will be surprised by Jesus’ answer to his question.  Tomorrow we will think about having a heart that forgives and some practical help in forgiving at home.  Please come back and grow with us.

 

Quote:

“I can forgive, but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I will not forgive.  Forgiveness ought to be like a canceled note – torn in two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one”[3] (Henry Ward Beecher).

“Forgiveness is the economy of the heart.  Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits”[2] (Hannah More).

 

 

 

[1] The quote is from the Harvest Study Bible.  Available from Harvest Ministries, Guam.
[2] More’s quote Downloaded: Thursday, February 11, 2021.  From: https://www.christianquotes.info/top-quotes/18-powerful-quotes-about-forgiveness/.  Hannah More (1745-1833).
[3] Beecher’s quote Downloaded: Thursday, February 11, 2021.  From: https://www.christianquotes.info/top-quotes/18-powerful-quotes-about-forgiveness/.