My Forgiving Jesus

Matthews 18:21 - "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times"

The teachings of the religious leaders and Rabbis of Jesus'  day stated that four times we must forgive as the extreme limit of forgiveness. But Apostle Peter in his estimate of "Seven times" exceeded this extreme limit for forgiveness, but still he came short of the limit of the Divine ideal for forgiveness.  To the Jews the number "Seven" is the number of perfection, and to Jesus that "Seventy times Seven" is indication of pure Love and Mercy. This is for us to have great relief that no expression could more forcibly convey the impression of ever-renewed, eternal, repetition than "seventy times seven!" gave us the comfort of our Heavenly Father. What comfort there is for each one of us here! For if we  man expect  to forgive our  brother merely "Seven" times thus , then how may we not count on His forgiveness as limitless and never-ending.

This parable shows the great deficiency we do to ourselves as well as our relationship to others, when we fail to forgive. In this story  was a man who had been forgiven the enormous debt of two millions dollars, but was not softened and chastened by its remission, for he went immediately from his Master's presence to lay violent claims on a  fellow-friend, who owed him less than a five-pound dollar. He is deaf to the reasons which had filled his own mouth previously,  and forgot the remorseful acts and mercy his master showed him earlier,  and instead demanding that  this debt should be paid immediately.

Sometimes we are ignorant and not appreciative to the love of God and are all tempted to abuse the forgiving love of God to justify the means to fulfill our own self greed. Then we become censorious, vindictive, implacable, and unforgiving. If we  want to be the reverse of this, consider how much we have been forgiven! Sit down and count up our enormous debt to God, and how freely He has forgiven us. Only the forgiving are forgiven--"If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." If we are unrelenting, slow to recognize merit, quick to observe faults, cherishing ill-will and resentment for injuries inflicted, perhaps years ago; and if we cling to and nourish this spirit, we may be sure that we have never been forgiven.

Then how are we to attain the state of mind which forgives so often? The parable teaches us that we must receive God's pardon in a right spirit, that we must remember our own failures and sins, and that we must ever be willing to show  forgiving love over the sins and failures of those around us.

My Forgiving Jesus, Thank you

Taniela Fonua (Lapaifonua)