“Then Peter came and said to Him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?'”
Peter asks Jesus an interesting question. He doesn’t ask how many different people should we forgive. The answer to that is simple, we are to forgive everyone. Peter asks Jesus how many times we should forgive the same person for sinning against us. Peter then suggests a number that, I’m sure, stretched him by saying up to seven times. It’s always interesting how we interact with people when we’re keeping score.
The Message Bible says: “At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, ‘Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?'”
Someone who does something wrong to us over and over is not likely to be on our most loved list. Yet we know Jesus said that our prayer effectiveness is related to our forgiveness quotient. Can you picture someone slapping you on the face and then saying, “Oh, forgive me.” We may be willing to forgive once, but seven times? How about seventy times seven times?
To be like Jesus, I must forgive people who sin against me, even more than once.
- Reading Plan A: 2 Corinthians 1
- Reading Plan B: Psalms 99-102
- Reading Plan C: Proverbs 15,16; 2 Corinthians 1
by Tim Davidson
Excerpt permission granted by
Word of Faith Church & Outreach Center
Called to the Body of Christ as a pastor and teacher, Tim Davidson pioneered Word of Faith Church in Bismarck in 1980. He served as its Lead Pastor for 35 years and now serves as Founding Pastor. Pastor Tim has pioneered 6 churches in North Dakota and now serves as Regional Director for Rhema Ministerial Association International. Teaching believers foundational truths from God's Word is his passion.
He has authored 3 yearly devotion books that are used both here and overseas to help believers become "rooted and grounded" in their faith.
God is now calling Pastor Tim to share the treasury of wisdom and knowledge God has given to him with other pastors and churches.