Matthew 18:21, 22 (NKJV): 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
Jesus. Matthew:
Peter was really on to something. In a culture that was grounded in tit-for-tat justice—he was going to let it go seven times. Can you believe Peter’s massive generosity toward those who offended him? His willingness to let the offender off the hook after seven repeated offenses!! Impressive. Ok, so I’m being a bit tongue in cheek. But then again, maybe we’re more like Peter than we care to admit. When your spouse locks the keys in the car the first time: “Ah, it’s ok, dear. Everybody does it.” A second time. Two years later. “What? Again? Really? I’m right in the middle of big job!” Then, just a few months ago, a third time. Now we lose it. “You’re always locking your keys in the car! I can’t believe it!!!” Really, is that all it takes? Three times? THREE!?!?! Peter gave it SEVEN. Then Jesus answered—and in one sweep, scooped up all our numbers, all our conditions, crumpled them up and tossed them out the window. Is there a place for accountability? For consequences. Absolutely. But a place for keeping a tally of wrongs in our hearts? A place to STOP forgiving? Nope. Not in God’s economy of grace.
