Matthew 18:21-22
“Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.”
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Forgive him seventy-seven times. Wow, that’s too many. Imagine the sins he has committed against me and still, I have to forgive him – again and again and again.
This must be how we reacted once we read this commandment from the Lord. But yes, there is no type error here. Seven, or seventy-seven or seven times seventy seven, it doesn’t matter. Jesus just wants to tell us to be forgiving and always forgive from the heart.
Start in the home. Husbands and wives must practice it. Parents and children must practice it. As families practice this, there will be no separation nor will family be destroyed. Forgiveness in the home will result in healthy families.
Practice forgiveness at the work place. Do not become bitter toward your employer and fellow workers. Do not keep score of the offenses of those around you.
And in forgiveness comes joy. When we repent and receive Christ’s forgiveness, we experience a different kind of happiness. This joy is as abundant, as rich and as unlimited as the Lord's abundant forgiveness of us. And by letting others experience this same joy, we must learn to forgive from the heart.
Practice forgiveness. I, myself, have a lot of catching up to do here. Experience forgiving others and receive the forgiveness of the Lord.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Solidify our understanding of forgiveness as you have done for us. Amen +
Do not forget the works of the Lord!
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