Then Peter approaching asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.' Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.' Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?' Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart." When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan. (Mt 18:21-19:1)
Forgiveness and reconciliation should be the goal of every follower of Jesus. The disciple is not asked to swallow resentment. If confrontation has to happen it must always be with forgiveness in mind, never revenge. Every time you accuse someone else, you accuse yourself. Every time you forgive someone else, you behave like God who has forgiven you hundred percent.
Those who refuse to forgive others will themselves be refused forgiveness. This image of God seems to be strange. Can’t God override our failings at exactly that point? Apparently God won’t. The New Testament speaks with one voice on this subject. Forgiveness is reciprocated. The prayer which Jesus taught his disciples also communicate the same message.
Peter’s question also seems strange. If you are still counting how many times you have forgiven someone then you have not forgiven not really forgiven the at all. You are only postponing taking revenge. Jesus is teasing when he says ‘seventy times seven’. What he really wants to say is ‘stop counting’ and start forgiving. We are asked just to forgive. And nothing more and nothing less.
