Bible Study November 7, 2023
Matthew 18:21-22 (ESV)
“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Forgiveness is something we all either deal with or have dealt with in our lives from an early age. Forgiveness is hard but it is rewarding. Things happen that should have never happened or we meant for them not to happen they just did. There are some things easier to forgive than others but God never qualified forgiving by saying what the size of the hurt was.
Marriage as example is often a covenant where there must be forgiveness. Something is said or interpreted incorrectly, forgiveness is needed and should be immediate. Forgiveness should be the first thing we pray for after thanking God for all He has done for us.
Peter was interested in a number of times to forgive when we read the scripture. Jesus always shows us something new in His response. Peter may have thought he was being generous with seven times yet Jesus provides a new understanding of never-ending forgiveness.
Is there that person or action against us we need to forgive? Maybe we need to ask ourselves who is free once we forgive another. Freedom comes to one who is forgiving.
I had a conversation yesterday with a person and they brought up the idea of forgiveness and told me they never were completely free until the forgive a hurt that someone did to them.
What or who do you need to forgive today?
God Bless.
Asbury Chapel 