Matthew 18
December 16, 2022
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” (v21-22)
To forgive someone 7 times was considered gracious, in comparison to the conventional thinking of the day. Rabbis in the first century taught that ‘3 times’ was the sufficient number one needed to forgive someone who had wronged you. And so, when Peter says ‘7 times,’ he’s probably thinking Jesus will see him as a very gracious person. But instead, Jesus responds by saying, “No, not 7 times, but 77 times” (v22). Of course, Jesus wasn’t saying to forgive someone 77 times, but on the 78th time – that’s it – no more forgiveness. When Jesus says to forgive someone 77 times, what he’s saying is, ‘Forgive as often as you’re sinned against.’ Why? Because of how much we’ve been forgiven by God, which is the point of the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (v23-35).
Father, I praise You for the forgiveness of all my sins through Christ. My sins total far more than 77, and yet every one of them has been atoned for on the cross. Hallelujah! May I be so overwhelmed with gratitude at Your forgiveness of my debt - that I am quick and complete in my forgiveness of those who have hurt or offended me. In fact, in this moment, I pray for them. Guard my heart from bitterness. Bless them, Lord. Do in them and for them all that would lead to their good and Your glory.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
