You Want Me to Forgive You Again? Part 1
One of the most difficult things to deal with as a follower of Jesus Christ is repetitive sin. I am not talking about a sin that I commit over and over, but how does the Lord want me to react when someone sins repeatedly the same sin against me? It makes me want to ask the same question Peter asked of Jesus – “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21).
Now it could be that the offender Peter was thinking about was a person who sinned different kinds of sins against him, but I believe that he meant what should he do when someone sins the same sin multiple times over. Either way the answer is the same.
It seems that Peter was trying to be generous when he picked seven times because the tradition of the Pharisees said one only needs to forgive someone three times, then you can reject them. And what was Jesus’ answer to Peter? “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven!” (Verse 22)
In Luke 17: 3-4, Jesus told His disciples, “If your brother sins against you rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven time come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” And what was the disciple’s response? “Lord, give us more faith!”
The instruction of our Lord is clear. We must forgive each other every time we are sinned against…no exceptions! One reason we are to forgive in this way is because this is how God forgives us (1 John 1:9). He forgives us every time we repent, and we are commanded to do the same. Another reason, according to the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21-35), is that as children of God we have sinned against God far more than anyone has ever sinned against us, and He sent His only Son to pay the price for our wicked deeds so He could forgive us. We do not have the right to hold an offense over a brother’s head.
Finally, we are to forgive because if we do not forgive others, we won’t be forgiven our sins (Matthew 6:14-15). An unforgiving spirit is a heart full of pride and self-righteousness. That soul will not be forgiven unless they repent of these sins and forgive their offender. If you are holding onto bitterness ask God to forgive you, then forgive. You will set two people free!