Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. — Colossians 3:13 NLT
We learnt in the last blog about loving and forgiving, and how they are interrelated. We also learnt that one cannot truly love and be unforgiving, nor can one truly forgive without loving. And finally that, some people require you to have “extra grace” to show and express love to them.
This got me thinking about what Jesus said in Matthew 18:15-22 and Luke 17:3-4, as well as broadly about love, offences, and forgiveness. Jesus said, “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector…Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someonewho sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” Matthew 18:15-17, 21-22 (NLT)
And again, He said, “If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.” Luke 17:3-4 (NLT)
Jesus advised that should an erring brother refuse to repent or change after attempts of reconciliation, that brother should be treated as a heathen or a tax collector. Also, Jesus was saying that Peter should be willing to forgive unendingly infinite no matter how often or how many times he is wronged. Is there a contradiction?
That said, I personally think it is highly unlikely that one person can offend another seven times a day. I mean, what will be the problem with that person? If Jesus is saying that we should be willing to forgive unendingly, surely there must come a point at which one will say, enough is enough! And by saying enough is enough, does that mean one is disobeying the commands of Jesus to forgive no matter how many times one is wronged?
Does forgiving an erring brother or sister mean they are free from punishment or the consequences of their action? Where does mercy, justice, grace and accountability come in when dealing with a “serial offender”? By choosing to repeatedly forgive, does it mean we’re ignoring or encouraging patterns of harm or failing to protect ourselves and the community?
These are hard questions we shall attempt to answer later.
Stay blessed,
LaraLex
Hills and Valleys 