Perfect Forgiveness

13 Aug

Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
“Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive him?
As many as seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times
but seventy-seven times.”
  (Mt 18:21-22)

Jesus constantly demanded much from His disciples — as He still does today.

Numbers were very important to the people at the time of the Lord.  Some numbers (like forty) meant “a long time”.  Others, (such as three, seven, and ten) related to perfection.  Peter, in a bit of a confrontation, once asked Jesus, in effect, “If my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?  A perfect number of times?”

Jesus’ response was, “No.  Not a perfect amount of times.  But a perfect amount times a perfect amount times a perfect amount.”

In other words, Jesus meant business!

He did then and He does now.

There are many people in the world that hurt others.  There may have been many people who have hurt us.

As followers of the Lord, we are called to remember:

  • We are all brothers and sisters in the Lord.
  • Because we are all brothers and sisters in the Lord, we must forgive one another.

It will never get any clearer than that.

FAITH ACTION:  To whom do you bear a grudge or harbor such resentment that you cannot forgive?  Ask the Lord to help you to forgive that person this day.