Pure JesusCampione

Jesus - Your Freedom and Forgiver

Four Hundred and Ninety Times, but Who's Counting?

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22)

Who has wronged you? Come on, I know you have a list. Maybe you have heard this discourse between Peter and Jesus before. I think that when Peter approached Jesus, he was really hoping to score some brownie points with his teacher. You see, it was their culture to forgive someone’s offenses just three times. So when Peter struts in thinking he’s got this one in the bag, throwing down a SEVEN - I mean come on... the perfect number! ...seven is more than double the number three. Jesus replies like only He could: “I wouldn’t say seven times. Why not seventy times seven?” 

Some thoughts come to mind. “Are you trying to tell me that I need to forgive someone that has hurt me? Forgiveness is dangerous. What if they do it again? Do you know what seventy times seven equals? That’s a lot. I don’t know if my heart and mind can take that kind of abuse.”

I don’t think Jesus is saying you should be a punching bag. In fact, He calls us in Matthew 10:16 to be “wise as serpents.” Forgiveness isn’t permission for abuse. That being said, we are all hurt and broken people; and hurt people, hurt people. We have all done it, and it's been done to us. 

Jesus is trying to tell us that there is something more dangerous and harmful to us than forgiving: withholding forgiveness. Forgiveness is like the air in your lungs. There’s only room for you to inhale the next lungful. If you insist on withholding it from an individual that might desperately need it, you won’t be able to take anymore in yourself, and you will suffocate very quickly.

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” - Matthew 6:14-15

“Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy.” - Matthew 5:7

“There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.” - James 2:13

See a theme here?

So what’s with the seventy times seven? 

Don’t worry about the math. No, really! That’s the point. Don’t keep score. 

If someone has wronged you and today you are still holding on - exhale and experience the freshness that awaits with your next breath.