Seventy Times Seven

“At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, ‘Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me?  Seven?  Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly.  Try seventy times seven’” (Matthew 18:21,22 MSG).

God’s Math

70   X  7  =

EXTRAVAGANT

Seventy times seven was a symbolic answer that meant, “EXTRAVAGANTLY!”   God created this entire universe for us, and after he created it, He created us.  He asked us to take good care of it, all of it, especially the people, and we don’t always do that.  But God loves us, and He forgives us.  Because God is love, He certainly forgives “EXTRAVAGANTLY!”  He made us in His image, so He expects us to forgive  “EXTRAVAGANTLY!”

 In 1 John 1:9 we are told, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  It doesn’t say that we will be forgiven once, or twice, or “seventy times seven.”  It just says that we are forgiven if we confess our sins.  Not only that, but He will “purify us from all unrighteousness.” (NIV)  Romans 8:1,2 tells us, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (NIV)   We’ve been set free from the law of sin and death and are not condemned.  Psalm 103:12 shows how far our sins have been removed from us:  “as far as the east is from the west  so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (NIV)  At the time of His greatest pain, and near death, Jesus said, “…Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing….”   Luke 23:34 (NIV).  It’s clear that His forgiveness for us is well beyond “seventy times seven.”

God forgives us greatly, and He asks us to forgive “EXTRAVAGANTLY.”   He directs us in Ephesians 3:32, to “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  We are to give as God has forgiven.  The members of the church in Collosse were told:  “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”  God forgave us “EXTRAVAGANTLY,” and He is again asking us to do the same.  Jesus spoke these words that are recorded in Luke 6:27,28:  “But to you who are listening I say:  ‘Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.’”  That does NOT leave any room for, “But look what he did to me.  Where’s my justice?”  God expects us to forgive even our enemies.  He expects us to forgive “EXTRAVAGANTLY.”  

If we are going to be faithful to Him, we need to do that.  If we are going to grow to be like Jesus we are going to have to forgive “EXTRAVAGANTLY.”  We’ve got some growing to do.  Our joy will grow as we follow His lead and forgive as He forgave.