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.
Matthew 18:21-22
"It was the custom among the Jews in the days of Christ to forgive three times. peter in an attempt to be generous suggested forgiving twice that, and one more for good measure, bringing the number to seven, the "perfect" number. But Jesus' reply was that seven times isn't nearly enough. Keep forgiving until seventy time seven. And what do we understand that to mean? Are we to keep a ledger and forgive exactly 490 times? No, He was saying our forgiveness should be unlimited.
Would God ask us to be more forgiving than He is? The answer is obviously No. So this reply of Jesus teaches us that God's forgiveness is unlimited."
Morris Vendon's "To Know God- A 5-Day Plan" pg. 91
Isn't that Good News?
"The disciples sinned and failed and fell again and again, yes. But there is more to the story than that? Through the continuing relationship with Christ they were changed into His image and became more than conquerors through Him who loved them." pg. 96
I love these two perspectives - I love the idea that since Jesus would not ask us to do something that He is not willing to do- tells us clearly that He offers an unlimited amount of forgiveness. And I love the fact that the disciples continued to sin while He was with them and He did not give up on them. No, He continued to love them. And because they continued on in relationship with Jesus Christ- that He changed them into His image. And He will do the same for us. Praise the Lord for that!
I hope that this Good News blessed you like it blessed me! :O)
That is good news! God is so good!
ReplyDeleteHugs to you.
Lauren