THE MATHEMATICS OF FORGIVENESS

          In His sermon on the mount Jesus spoke very plainly about the need for forgiving one another.  For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Mt.6:14-15).  Luke’s gospel indicates that the twelve apostles were present on this occasion (cf. Lk.6:13 & 20f).  Often the apostles would seek clarification as to the more precise meaning of what Jesus had taught.  Thus, we see Peter approaching Jesus in a later setting asking, Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? (Mt.18:21).  Peter wondered aloud if it should be up to seven times?.  Seven, after all, was a symbol of fullness and maturity.  Jesus responded with an answer that must have dumbfounded Peter - - I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven (Mt.18:22).  If we focus on the math (seventy times seven equals four-hundred ninety) we will miss Jesus’ point.  Paul writes that “love keeps no record of wrongs” (1Cor.13:5/Phillips) and that “love bears all things” (1Cor.13:7).  In the life of serious disciples of Christ there is no place for an accountant’s ledger. 

          Can you imagine the trouble we’d be in if we were on the receiving end of Peter’s standard (seven times) or even a literal inter-pretation of Jesus’ words (seventy times seven)?  Who among us doesn’t shudder at the idea of God keeping a record of our wrongs.  The Almighty is a Father of mercies (2Cor.1:3) and God of all grace (1Pet.5:10).  The mathematics of forgiveness knows no limits. 

In the words of the prophet Jeremiah:  the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end.  They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness… (Lam.3:22-23).  What a joy it is to wake up every morning to a clean slate.  The apostle Paul exhorts, Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, JUST AS GOD IN CHRIST ALSO HAS FORGIVEN YOU (Eph.4:31-32/NIV and NASV).      

           Some of us have been hurt terribly by others - - sometimes in ways unfathomable.  For even the most conscientious Christian, forgiving others can be one of life’s most difficult assignments.  It is seldom an easy thing to do.  However, taking up the cross of Christ demands that we follow in His steps (1Jn.2:6).  The essence of the cross is unmerited favor.  “In Him we have…the forgiveness of our sins” (Eph.1:7).  Since we have been pardoned solely by God’s grace, we dare not deny mercy and grace to our fellow sinners.