Grace To Forgive Series

When we experience forgiveness, we are able to extend forgiveness. It is not enough to experience grace but rather we are called to reach out to others with grace. When grace moves in our hearts, we are more open to forgive. Forgiveness is not an optional expression of God’s grace for believers. Instead, forgiveness evidence that we have experienced God’s grace through an encounter with Jesus Christ.

Forgiveness is an expectation of grace

14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15

We cannot be forgiven if we choose to be unforgiving. Jesus makes it abundantly clear that the expectation of those who are forgiven is to also forgive others. When we choose to harbor resentment toward others, we are choosing to ignore the command of Christ. When we refuse to forgive, we are living in disobedience with God. Instead of embracing His power to give us the strength and grace to forgive, we decide to reject God’s will for our lives.

Forgiveness is a choice that we make each day. Each day we make the choice to hold grudges and become bitter. Each day we make the choice to like Christ and let go of the desire to retaliate against others. Each day we make the choice to live out the evidence of our faith in Christ and extend forgiveness to others.

Forgiveness is an extension of grace

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22

Peter goes to Jesus with a question on forgiveness. Peter asks about the nature of forgiveness: who, when and how many times. Peter is thinking about forgiveness through the lens of the Law and there were strict guidelines on forgiveness. The Jewish Law gave the limit of three times to forgive someone of the same sin. The view was that this was extremely fair, just and righteous. Peter asks Jesus about the number of times to forgive, he doubles it and adds one. The limitations that Peter has in mind about forgiveness are simple.

Peter’s thinking on forgiveness

Who: Only extend forgiveness to a brother, a fellow believer

When: Only when asked

How many times: Maximum of seven times

Jesus answers and sets a tone not of the Law but a tone of grace. Jesus responds with 77 times. In other places, the phrase is translated seventy times seven. Jesus is not setting a new limit on the number of times we should be willing to forgive. Jesus was not saying to keep a record of wrongs up to 77 times or even 490 times. The expression is one of grace. The point that Jesus is making here is that there should be no more keeping score. There should be no more holding grudges and there should be no more rationalizing unwillingness to forgive.

Jesus does not reject the Law here but rather resets the Law with a focus on grace. Jesus shows God’s view on forgiveness is not legalistic but filled with grace. The purpose of forgiveness is to extend the grace of God to other people. The reality of grace is one that does not focus on rules, as the Jews thought, but on the character of God. God keeps no record of wrongdoing, God is ready to forgive at all times. This is the model for the behavior of believers.