"Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how any times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times? ”22“I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven."
Many people today, forgive people when they have been hurt but, won't forget what the person has done in the first place. This is so wrong. It may sound understandable, especially when someone has hurt you badly. However, it means you haven't forgiven them at all. At any time in the future, this wrong could flare up again because it wasn't laid to rest at the foot of Jesus' cross.
How would you feel if Jesus said He would forgive you but not forget about it. It wouldn't be a blessing would it but, this is the way others feel when you won't forget what they have done. When we forgive someone, we are expected to forget about it as well and not carry it around as a grudge.
Jewish rabbis taught that forgiveness need only be offered three times. Peter then, was being generous when he suggested 7 times. However, when Jesus mentioned seventy times seven, He was insisting that forgiveness has no limits. The numeral 7 in Hebrew, means perfection and limitless. Therefore, seventy times seven means continuous, never-ending. If the world could adopt this type of teaching, it would be a better place to live. We do make mistakes and, we do let people down but, when we say we are sorry the reaction should be, 'I forgive you (and choose to remember it no more. This is what Jesus does with us. He is not forgetful at all, He just chooses to forgive and remember it no more.
Peter would have remembered this teaching when Jesus restored Him back into the ministry (John 21). He would also never have forgotten how Jesus forgave Him for denying Him prior to the crucifixion.
What about you? Is there a person or persons, in your life who you need to forgive and forget? Why not set yourself, and them, free from this heavy burden that is around your shoulder. You will feel much better if you do. Keeping a record of wrongs is not the best of ideas. There are grudges, hurts and bad feelings that you are hanging on to and they are churning you up inside and, these are very prominent when you are in the person's company. This is holding you back so, deal with it today!
If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now
Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen
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