No Frugality in Forgiveness

“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 18:22 In ancient Jewish culture, it was traditional to forgive a person up to three times. Therefore, when Peter, who was the overachiever and “big brother” of the disciples, asked His Rabbi if he should forgive up to seven times, he was certain he was being extremely gracious. No doubt, he believed that his suggestion would be met with a big pat on the back by Jesus, so how shocked he must have been when His Lord told him that he should forgive up to seventy times seven!  This number clearly not meant to be taken literally, our Savior’s heart of infinite mercy was revealed in His response to Peter’s

“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 18:22 Yesterday, we talked about the Old Testament character Lamech and how he swore to avenge his enemies seventy times seven times in order to get even. Today, I want to complete this thought by discussing Jesus’ admonition to forgive in a manner as extravagant and “over the top” as Lamech’s commitment to revenge. In ancient Jewish culture, it was tradition to forgive a person up to three times. Therefore, when Peter, who was the overachiever and “big brother” of the disciples, asked His Rabbi if he should forgive up to seven times, he was certain he was being extremely gracious. No doubt, he believed that his suggestion would be met