The Power of Forgiveness – A Bible Study in Matthew 18:21-22
“Then Peter approached Jesus and asked: Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered, I say not to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22)
Forgiveness is one of the greatest Christian virtues and is essential to our spiritual life. Jesus taught about the power of forgiveness on many occasions and Matthew 18:21-22 is one such example. In this Bible study, we’re going to explore the meaning of forgiveness and what the Bible says about it.
What is Forgiveness?
Forgiveness is the action of releasing someone from the guilt or punishment of a mistake or offense. It is the decision to let go of anger, bitterness and the desire for revenge towards the person who has offended us. Forgiveness is a process that can be difficult and painful, but it is essential to our spiritual life.
Why Should We Forgive?
There are many reasons why we should forgive. First, God has forgiven us and called us to forgive others. In Ephesians 4:32 , we read, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” God forgave us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. We must forgive others because we were forgiven first.
Another reason to forgive is that forgiveness releases God’s power in our lives. When we forgive, we are surrendering to God and allowing Him to work in our hearts. In Matthew 6:14-15 , Jesus said , “For if you forgive one another’s trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive one another, the heavenly Father will not forgive your trespasses.” When we forgive, God can forgive us and release His grace and power into our lives.
What is Forgiveness not?
Before proceeding further, it is important to understand what forgiveness is not. Forgiveness is not forgetting what the person has done or downplaying the seriousness of the offense. Forgiveness does not mean that the person who has wronged us does not have to face the consequences of their actions. Nor does it mean that we should continue to have a close relationship with the person who has offended us if he does not repent and change his behavior.
How many times should we forgive?
Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother and he suggested seven times. Jesus answered, “I say not to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” This means that there is no limit to forgiveness. We must be willing to forgive whenever someone offends us, no matter how many times it happens.
What happens if we don’t forgive?
If we are not forgiving, it can lead to bitterness and resentment in our hearts, which can affect our spiritual life and relationships. Also, unforgiveness can drive us away from God. In Mark 11:25-26, Jesus said, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your heavenly Father may also forgive you your sins. But if you do not forgive, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your sins . ” It is important that we practice forgiveness in order to receive God’s forgiveness.
How can we forgive?
Forgiving can be difficult, but it is possible with God’s help. Here are some steps we can take to forgive:
- Acknowledge the pain that the offense has caused: It is important to acknowledge and accept the pain that the offense has caused. Ignoring the pain or pretending it doesn’t exist doesn’t help the forgiveness process.
- Decide to forgive: Forgiving is a decision we make. We need to be willing to leave anger and bitterness behind and allow God to work in our hearts.
- Pray: Pray for those who have wronged us and for ourselves. Ask God to help you forgive and to work in their hearts.
- Choose Love: Instead of getting stuck in bitterness and anger, choose love. Love the person who has offended you and pray that God can change their heart.
- Be patient: Forgiveness is a process. It doesn’t happen overnight. Be patient with yourself and those who have offended you.
Forgiveness is essential to our spiritual life and our relationships. We must be willing to forgive whenever someone offends us and recognize that forgiveness is a process. There is no limit to forgiveness and we must forgive because God forgave us first. When we forgive, we release God’s power in our lives and receive His grace and mercy.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
The challenge of forgiving seventy times seven times
In the book of Matthew 18:21-22, Peter approaches Jesus and asks, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answers: “I say not to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven”.
This answer by Jesus may have been surprising to Peter, who probably thought that seven times was a generous limit. But Jesus did not set a limit on forgiveness. Instead, He asked His disciples to forgive whenever someone offended them.
The truth is, we all need God’s forgiveness. We sin against Him everyday and need His grace and mercy. And just as we need God’s forgiveness, we also need to forgive those who offend us. There is no limit to forgiveness because God has no limit to forgiving.
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Right after answering Peter’s question, Jesus told a parable about an unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:23-35 . The story begins with a king who wanted to settle scores with his servants. One of his servants owed the king an enormous amount of money and could not pay it back. The king ordered that the servant and his family be sold into slavery to pay off the debt.
The servant begged for mercy and the king took pity on him, canceling his debt. However, shortly after being forgiven, the servant found a colleague who owed him a small amount of money. He demanded that the colleague pay the debt immediately, and when the colleague could not pay, the servant threw him into prison.
The other servants were outraged by the attitude of the uncompassionate servant and told the king what had happened. The king was angry and called the servant back. He told the servant that since he had shown no mercy, he would be handed over to the torturers until he paid off his entire debt.
This parable teaches us that, like the unmerciful servant, we all receive forgiveness from God, but we are not always willing to forgive others. If we don’t forgive, we run the risk of losing God’s forgiveness.
The Power of Forgiveness
Forgiveness has the power to heal emotional wounds and restore relationships. When we forgive someone, we are releasing the anger, bitterness, and resentment that can hold us back and keep us from moving forward. Furthermore, when we forgive, we are following the example of Jesus Christ.
In Colossians 3:13, the Bible teaches us: “Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” When we forgive, we are reflecting God’s love and mercy, and we are obeying his commandment to love one another.
Forgiveness is also an act of personal liberation. When we carry hurt and resentment, it affects not only our relationship with the person who has wronged us, but also our own emotional and spiritual health. When we forgive, we are releasing that burden and making room for peace and joy in our lives.
Forgiveness is not an excuse for sin
However, it is important to remember that forgiveness is not an excuse for sin. We cannot allow others to repeatedly treat us badly and expect it to be acceptable just because we are called to forgive. We should set healthy boundaries and seek help when needed.
Jesus said in Luke 17:3-4 , “If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. Even if he sins against you seven times in one day and seven times he comes back to you saying ‘I’m sorry’, you must forgive him”. Jesus teaches us that we should confront brothers who offend us and offer forgiveness when they genuinely repent.
The Role of Repentance in Forgiveness
Another important aspect of forgiveness is repentance. Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what was done or denying the pain we feel. We must acknowledge the offense and allow the person who has offended us to repent.
In 2 Corinthians 7:10 , the Bible teaches us, “Godly sorrow does not produce remorse, but repentance that leads to salvation, and worldly sorrow produces death.” When a person truly repents, he changes his behavior and seeks to repair the damage caused.
We must be willing to forgive when there is genuine regret, but we also need to have the wisdom to discern when someone is unrepentant and may continue to hurt us. In those cases, we can set healthy boundaries and pray for that person to find the path to true change.
Additional Bible Verses About Forgiveness
- Colossians 3:13: “Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
- Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”
- Matthew 5:23-24: “So if you are offering an offering at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there in front of the altar and go first to be reconciled with your brother; then come back and present your offer.”
- Mark 11:25: “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your heavenly Father may also forgive your sins.”
- Luke 6:37: “Judge not, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
These additional Bible verses remind us of the importance of forgiveness and how central it is to our Christian lives. We are to forgive as God in Christ forgave us, be compassionate and bear with one another, seek reconciliation with and forgive those who offend us.
prayer for forgiveness
When we find ourselves in situations where it is difficult to forgive, we can pray to God for help. We can ask Him to give us the grace to forgive, to help us see the situation from His perspective, and to give us the strength to overcome our feelings of anger, bitterness, and resentment.
A prayer we can say is:
“Lord, I recognize that forgiveness is essential to my Christian life. But sometimes it’s hard to forgive those who hurt me. I ask that you give me the grace to forgive, just as the Lord forgave me in Christ. Help me see this situation from His perspective and give me the strength to overcome my feelings of anger, bitterness, and resentment. May his love and mercy be present in my life, and may I be an instrument of his grace and forgiveness to those around me. In the name of Jesus, amen.”
Conclusion
Forgiveness is a central theme in the Bible and is essential to our Christian lives. We should forgive whenever we are offended, following the example of Jesus Christ. Forgiveness has the power to heal wounds, restore relationships, and free us from emotional burdens.
However, forgiveness is not an excuse for sin and we should set healthy boundaries and seek help when needed. Repentance is also an important aspect of forgiveness, and we must be willing to forgive when there is genuine repentance.
May we follow Christ’s example and forgive whenever we are offended, seeking reconciliation and healing in our relationships. May God’s love and mercy always be present in our lives, guiding us on the path of forgiveness and compassion.
May we also remember that forgiveness is not an easy task, but a process that can take time and effort. We must be patient with ourselves and others, trusting that God is working in us and in our relationships.
Finally, may we always turn to God in prayer, asking for His help and grace to forgive and love as He loves us. For it is through His strength and His love that we can live in peace with others and experience the true freedom that comes from forgiveness.
May God bless us and help us to live in love and harmony with one another, following Christ’s example in all that we do. Amen.
