21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.—Matthew 18:21-22
Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Um...that is a lot of forgiving. 490 to be specific. I would lose count...which was apparently Jesus’ point. Yay me!
We are to forgive and keep on forgiving...why? Because we have been shown mercy by our Master and have been forgiven. As a woman who has been forgiven much, I am so grateful for these words of Jesus and others like them. Psalm 103 comes to mind. Beloved, when Jesus forgives it is forever.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children,
So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
14 For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.—Psalm 103:8-14
Unforgiveness is a prison that has one doorway...going to our Master and asking Him to forgive us for our own unforgiveness toward others. John MacArthur says in his study on forgiveness (which I have included in the link below) that we are never more like God than when we forgive. I really liked that. Beloved, be like God and forgive. If Jesus tells us that we are to be a forgiving people, how much more will He forgive you for not forgiving if you ask Him.
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.—Ephesians 5:1
https://istwenty63.blogspot.com/2013/07/john-macarthur-reasons-to-forgive.html
The rest of the story from Matthew 18:
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."—Matthew 18:23-35
