Which is more difficult: to forgive or to ask for forgiveness? The Bible tells us that one of Jesus Christ’s disciples, Peter, had questions about forgiveness. One day, he asked the son of God: “How many times must we forgive the same person who sins against me?” Peter was quick in his thinking – he himself gave a suggestion: “7 times?”

The tradition of the rabbis taught that one should forgive the same person up to 3 times. Could it be that Peter wanted to impress Jesus by suggesting that one should forgive more than double the required number of times?

Whatever Peter’s intention, Christ went beyond when He answered: “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven” (v. 22). The first interpretation we might have when reading this verse is to multiply 70 x 7 = 490 times. Did Jesus reveal to us the perfect formula to arrive at the exact quantity of forgiveness? I believe it is impossible with our heart to count that we have forgiven the same person 490 times. Are you keeping track on a tic sheet? I mean, if someone comes up to you and asks for forgiveness, do you take out your tic sheet to see how many times you have already forgiven them? Imagine if God did that to us?! Just as an example, let’s say I am 35 years old and that I started asking God to forgive me every day since I was 10 years old. As of the date of this post, this would mean that I have asked Him to forgive me at least 9,125 times, which is way more than 490 times. I have exhausted my “quota” a long time ago!

While we seek to find logical ways for our limited reasoning to find a calculation to limit forgiveness, Christ teaches us our forgiveness has to go beyond: it needs to be unlimited, because that is what God does for us. Are we able to count how many times God has already forgiven our trespasses? We need to remember that Jesus teaches us to ask the Father to “forgive our trespasses as we have forgiven those that trespassed against us” (Matthew 6:12). If we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we confess that we want God to forgive our mistakes just like we have forgiven those who offended us.

How have you been practicing forgiveness in your life?

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15).

 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).

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