Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21,22.
Now here is Grace exemplified and explained. Peter speaks of the human response to an offender. He is concerned with the matter of an offending fellow traveler. He allows that there will be times that a brother will speak or act in a manner requiring a gracious response. Peter desires to be generous in his dispensing of forgiveness to such a one. He considers seven times, a good number, the allowable limit to grant a pardon.
The answer Jesus gave moved Peter into a whole other realm. While it is said among mortals, To err is human, to forgive divine, Jesus actually does reveal the Divine directive. More like, To err is human, to forgive many, many times is Divine.
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
For that great amplification to be accepted by those of us with the “enough is enough” tradition, Divine intervention definitely is required.
Herein is the matter resolved. Those who have been graced have the obligation to dispense grace to others. We are divinely enabled to do so. The forgiver inhabits the believer.
As children of God we walk in the presence of God’s forgiveness. Jesus personifies forgiveness. From the Cross He forgave his crucifiers.
He forgave the malefactor hanging on a cross next to him, and extended grace by promising immediate entry into paradise. Many during his ministry received forgiveness.
And now, as Peter addresses the matter, Jesus unveils the heart of the Father. Enter the kingdom and see the revelation. If men on earth are expected to forgive in such abundance, surely Deity has far greater capabilities. God forgives. Everything. Everybody. Always.
John explains further. 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Both the confessing sinner and confessing saint will engage the forgiving Father. And grace will justify you before His face because of the Cross. I always like to say, The cross is bigger than anything you can bring to it. So bring it. He will abundantly pardon and never remember it again.
Now, one last matter to touch on, a caveat of sorts.
Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Then he added in verse 14, 15: For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
So, finally. Grace dispensed is grace received. Forgive much, be forgiven much.
Do you owe somebody some grace? Forgive.
Do you need some grace? Be forgiven.
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt. -PJF-
Purpose! Ministries
A Praying Church - A Healing Church - A Holy Spirit Church - A Preaching Church
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