Lord, how many times could my brother (or sister) sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Matthew 18:21 (HCSB)
Limit Less – Forgive Series – Part 1
Go to PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6
In his book, Matthew records a loaded question that Peter asked Jesus. A question that I bet, a lot of us have thought about, prayed about, dreamt about… but asked out loud? The answer could be something we don’t want to hear. It’s a question that digs deep and raw into our humanity and is at the heart of so much disunity and disconnection in the world; so much heartache, fear, hopelessness, and simply (but not simple at all) loneliness.
“Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how many times could my brother (or sister) sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Matthew 18:21.
We can pretend that Peter was being curious, we can imagine that he was cool, calm and collected, having a “thinking out loud” moment… “How many times should I forgive someone, I mean, if I’m ever in a situation where forgiveness was needed, even, perhaps, multiple times. I’m just curious, just wondering… get back to me when you can, no biggie… People will probably read about this in the future, and it may be relevant to them…”
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
Peter was a human being, he would have had just as many hang-ups on this subject as you and I do.
Forgiveness is something that we ALL face, on either side of it, all through our lives. From beginning to end. Everyone, no matter what religion, country, career, upbringing, lifestyle, level of education and wealth, and every other defining category you can think of: the tension of forgiveness is universal.
Peter was asking the question, because, like us all, the notion of both receiving and giving forgiveness is a messy, complicated and challenging conversation. It’s not clean cut. It’s not black and white. It’s not easy, not one bit. At the heart of our humanity, forgiveness, mercy, and compassion, or the lack thereof, are some of the most powerful and life-changing processes that a person can take part in, or reject.
It has the potential to be a local and global community game changer.
And it IS a process.
Maybe Peter asked the question not out of curiosity, but heartache. Maybe he was plagued with memories of deep wounds and shames inflicted by those he loved and trusted. Maybe he woke with nightmares about those he had hurt. Maybe he was desperate to be forgiven. Maybe he didn’t think he had it in him to forgive, the price being too much to bear.
I hear myself in Peter’s question.
Is there a limit? Is there a limit to the number of times we will be hurt? Is there a limit to the number of times we are to show mercy and forgive those who do not, in the slightest, deserve it? Is there a limit to the number of times we will intentionally or unintentionally be the source of someone else’s pain? Will it ever end?
Rather than answering the question, Jesus told a story that reflected a much older one about two brothers, a stolen birthright, a wedding disaster (make that two…) a midnight wrestle with God, and finally, redemption.
Is forgiveness a touchy subject for you? Leave us your comments below.
Go to Part 2 – Seven x 70 »
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