Is 491 enough?!?!?

Today's Readings:
Matthew 18:21-35
Exodus 19-20

Forgiveness is a tricky thing. It's because you don't get much out of it. To truly forgive you have to give up all of your rights. To be truly forgiving one must be completely humble. This world would be a much different place if we could simply humble ourselves, rid ourselves of all selfishness, and truly forgive.

What if we all forgave like Jesus???

I guess that's the point.

In Matthew 18 we see Jesus teaching (something he did quite often) and Peter, one of the disciples, speaks up an asks what seemed like a simple question. "“Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me?" (Matthew 18:21) The question was appropriate given the conversation going on, about what to do if another brother sins against you. So Peter asks the question "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”

Seven times was a generous number. Peter knew this. I am quite certain Peter's question was a legitimate one. I am certain Peter wished to gain some new insight from Jesus on the topic of forgiveness. But his question also has just a hint of pride. "How about 7 times Jesus? Isn't that so generous of me?" I picture Peter hoping Jesus would say something like "Well done Peter. What a fine answer that is." Meanwhile the other disciples would be standing around clapping and saying "Good answer, good answer" as if they were on a long lost episode of "The Family Feud."

It actually was a pretty good answer. After all Peter had probably heard many times from the rabbis of the time that since God forgave Israel's enemies only 3 times to forgive anyone any more than 3 times was pretty unnecessary. To do so SEVEN times.....Wow!!! Good for you Peter!!!

But then Jesus, as He has done so many times before, blows their thanking out of the water.

Seven times you say Peter?!?! Is that your final answer?!?! (in your best Regis please)

“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!"

I can imagine Peter's smile turning to a bewildered frown. The other disciples glancing at one another wondering if they heard Jesus correctly. "Did He just say what I thought He said?...SEVEN TIMES SEVEN!?!?!"

That's 490 times

Now don't get hung up on the number. The point is not "That person has done me wrong 490 times, but now it has gone too far...that's it...491 is one time too many!!!!!!

Jesus chose an amount so beyond their thinking to illustrate that our forgiveness is to be never ending.

(Don't miss the story of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:23-35)

Jesus wants us to reflect His love and that means a selfless, humble, forgiving heart that goes beyond the ordinary. After all, like the king in the story (Matthew 18:23-35) who forgives a servant for a debt of Ten-Thousand Talents (which is an incomprehensible amount of money) we have been forgiven by God a debt we could never repay...

...and He did it by dying on a cross

Now that is the perfect picture of perfect forgiveness...perfect selflessness...perfect humility...

...and perfect love

Is 491 enough????

What do you think.

Tomorrow's Readings:
Matthew 19
Exodus 21-22