How Many Times Should We Forgive?
December 29, 2022
Commentary
Peter asked the Lord how many times he should forgive someone who did something to wrong him (v. 21). He asked if 7 times was enough and the Lord said, “not just 7 times but 77 times (v. 22).” Then a story was told about a king who called his officials in and asked them to pay what they owed him (v. 23). One man owed 50,000 silver coins but he didn’t have any money to pay what he owed, so the king ordered him and his family to be sold to pay the debt (vv. 24-25). This man got on his knees and begged for mercy (v. 26). The king felt sorry for him and said his bill was paid in full.
As this man was leaving, he met another official who owed him 100 silver coins and he grabbed him by the throat, chocked him, and demanded that he pay what he owed him (vv. 27-28). He begged the first official to give him time to pay what he owed but the other official put him in jail (vv. 29-30). When some other officials heard about what happened they told the king, and he called the first official back and said, “You’re an evil man!” When you begged for mercy, I let you off free. Don’t you think you should show pity, as I did to you” (vv. 31-33)?
The king was so angry that he ordered the official to be tortured until he paid back everything he owed (v. 34). This is how the Father in heaven will treat you if you don’t forgive each of my followers with all your heart (v. 35). It is because he is a God of such compassion and mercy that He cannot possibly accept as His those devoid of such compassion and mercy. Those who are forgiven must forgive, lest they show themselves incapable of receiving forgiveness.
Application
When the Lord says we are not just to forgive 7 times, but 77 times, it means an unlimited amount and I should forgive continuously and without limit, just as God forgives me.
Matthew 18:21– 35 (NET)
21 Then Peter came to him and said, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times!
23 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 As he began settling his accounts, a man who owed 10,000 talents was brought to him. 25 Because he was not able to repay it, the lord ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made. 26 Then the slave threw himself to the ground before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.’ 27 The lord had compassion on that slave and released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 After he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 silver coins. So he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ 29 Then his fellow slave threw himself down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.’ 30 But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt. 31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very upset and went and told their lord everything that had taken place. 32 Then his lord called the first slave and said to him, ‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me! 33 Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?’ 34 And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture him until he repaid all he owed. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.”