A clarifying question . . . that’s the term we often use at work for a question that’s asked in order to make sure we’re understanding the point someone is trying to make. Peter asked a clarifying question in my reading this morning in Matthew 18. Jesus had been teaching on the importance of and the process for brothers to be reconciled (Matt. 18:15-20). That reconciliation between brothers was important, was evident from Jesus instruction. So Peter, being a “bottom-line” type of guy tries to get to the point, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” (18:21)

Now I’m guessing that Peter thought that was a pretty generous number, “Seven times . . . I know it would be tough, Lord . . . but I can do all things through You who strengthens me . . . even to the point of forgiving someone who transgresses against me up to seven times.” And if you think about it, that would be pretty big of someone. But Jesus’ answer blows the lid off of Peter’s idea of what would be “above and beyond” behavior. Jesus comes back with “seventy times seven.” Not that He was setting a higher limit, but that He was conveying no limit at all. Who could track forgiving someone 490 times. Wouldn’t be done. The charge was clear . . . forgive.

And then, to make the point, Jesus tells a parable. He tells the story of a king who has determined to settle accounts with those who owe him money. One of them is a servant who somehow owes the master 10,000 talents. Ok . . . so that’s a huge amount . . . putting it in our terms, its like several millions of dollars . . . more than a lifetime of wages for most people, never mind for a servant. How he got into such debt is beyond understanding . . . and it’s also not the point. When commanded to pay up, the servant begs for time promising to pay it all back if the master would but have patience. Empty promise . . . no way he could pay it back. He knew it . . . the master knew it. But the master is moved with compassion . . . and forgives the debt . . . all of it . . . unconditionally.

The servant however, though given this new lease on life . . . though forgiven this huge debt . . . finds a fellow servant who owes him a hundred denarii, a hundred days of wages, and demands payment. Ok, so over 3 months wages is nothing to sneeze at . . . it’s a pretty significant debt . . . but the point is pretty clear . . . compared to what had been owed to and forgiven by the master, this was insignificant. It’s almost incredible to imagine this servant demanding that his buddy be thrown into debtors prison until he could pay in full. But that’s Jesus’ point, isn’t it? Forgive seven times? Forgive seventy times seven times? No, forgive in the measure to which you have been forgiven.

How great was my debt? Far too great for me to pay. The debt owed for my sin was beyond my ability to pay. Apart from the grace of the Master who freely forgave my debt in full, I would be without hope. How then can I not forgive?

Unlimited forgiveness . . . that’s what I have received. The Cross should be an ever present reminder of the price paid by the Father, through the Son, for my sin. Jesus bore my sin, and it, along with the Lamb of God, was nailed to the cross . . . the debt was canceled . . . new life imparted through faith in Him.

Unlimited forgiveness . . . that’s what I’m called to extend to others. Oh, I know it is much easier said than done . . . but it really is the appropriate response as we consider the grace we’ve known. Paul told the Ephesians to “forgive one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:32). It’s not about keeping track of wrongs, apologies, and the number of times we forgive. It’s really not about keeping track at all. It’s about forgiving others as God has forgiven us through His Son. Trying counting that . . . try measuring the number of sevens in the Father’s forgiveness . . . unlimited!

Praise God!