"Then Peter came up and said to him, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.'" - Matthew 18:21-22
Forgiveness can be one of the most challenging commands in Scripture. It seems counterintuitive to forgive someone who has done us wrong, especially when the pain they caused us is severe. The world tells us to exact revenge against those who wrong us instead of offering forgiveness. But if we choose this path, we will inevitably end up miserable. I know this firsthand. I once held on to a hurt from a close friend for over a decade. Instead of truly forgiving the other person, I allowed feelings of disappointment and anger to live rent-free in my head, robbing me of joy and peace. Ironically, I was the one who paid the cost of the unforgiveness since the other person had just chosen to “move on”. When I finally forgave him, it was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.
In the Bible, Jesus explains how forgiveness is essential for healing and freedom. And when Jesus tells Peter to forgive 70 times 7, he isn’t setting a numerical limit of 490. Instead, he is inviting us to cultivate a heart that continually chooses forgiveness, even when it seems impossible; to surrender our right to exact revenge and trust God's ability to heal and restore.
The reason you and I can choose to forgive is because we ourselves have been forgiven. Ephesians 4:32 calls us to forgive "just as in Christ God forgave you." When we take a moment to reflect on the magnitude of our own forgiveness—how God in Christ forgave our sins, despite how often we fall short—it shifts our perspective. It doesn’t mean we forget, or that we allow others to continue to harm us, but it means we release the power that unforgiveness has over our lives. By choosing to forgive, we open the door for healing, and we create space for God's peace to fill our hearts.
Take a moment right now and ask the Lord to clearly show you who you need to forgive. Pray first for yourself, that God will soften your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to help you forgive those who have hurt you. Then, pray for those who you need to forgive. Mention them by name. As we work toward better unity in our church, we should remember we ARE the church. That’s you and me! When we choose to forgive, real healing can begin, and the Lord will draw us closer to Him and each other.
