HOW OFTEN SHOULD I FORGIVE?

When Jesus was asked, how often do we need to forgive, He gave quite an incredible answer;

Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him “I do not say to you, up to seven times but up to seventy times seven”

That is a lot of times!! I have come to realise that this statement doesn’t mean 70x7 during a lifetime, but rather 70x7 during each day to the same person and sometimes for the same offence.

Jesus was illustrating a large number to symbolise that we need to forgive over and over again. For all intents and purposes it may as well as of been 170x70. He wasn’t meaning that we need to forgive 490 times and then, that’s it we don’t have to forgive anymore. Some offences are going to take a lot more forgiving and even more healing than others.

Always bear this in mind. As stated in other places on this site, the forgiveness given freely is not for the other person/persons, it is for us so that healing can begin with the freedom that this provides.

If you are finding this difficult to grasp or even understand, believe me this is one thing we as a family have come to understand more than anything else. The continual process of the ongoing forgiveness does unlock the doors that restrict us from moving forward. This is what enables the healing process to begin.