Forgiveness
Preaching
Preaching The Parables
Series III, Cycle A
1. Text
Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" [22] Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy--seven times.
[23] "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. [24] When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; [25] and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. [26] So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' [27] And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. [28] But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, 'Pay what you owe.' [29] Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' [30] But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. [31] When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. [32] Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. [33] Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' [34] And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. [35] So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."
2. What's Happening?
First Point Of Action
When Peter asks Christ how often, as many as seven times, he should forgive another member of the church who sins against him, Jesus says not seven times but 77 times.
Second Point Of Action
Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to the king who wishes to settle accounts with his slaves.
Third Point Of Action
When one slave cannot pay his debt of 10,000 talents, the king orders the slave, his wife, his children, and all his possessions to be sold and payment to be made.
Fourth Point Of Action
The slave falls on his knees, asking for patience and promising to pay him everything.
Fifth Point Of Action
Out of compassion for him, the king releases him and forgives the debt.
Sixth Point Of Action
The same slave, as he goes out, comes upon one of his fellow slaves who owes him a hundred denarii.
Seventh Point Of Action
He seizes his fellow slave by the throat and demands that he pay what he owes.
Eighth Point Of Action
The fellow slave falls down and pleads with him for patience and promises to pay his debt.
Ninth Point Of Action
The man refuses and throws him into prison until he will pay the debt.
Tenth Point Of Action
Fellow slaves, distressed by this, tell the king.
Eleventh Point Of Action
Summoning the slave, the king calls him wicked and tells him he forgave him his debt because he pleaded with him. The slave should have shown similar mercy on his fellow slave.
Twelfth Point Of Action
The angry king hands the slave over to be tortured until he will pay his entire debt.
Thirteenth Point Of Action
Christ reminds the disciples that his "heavenly Father" will act likewise to them if they do not forgive brother or sister from the heart.
3. Spadework
From Your Heart
Of the 514 references to "heart," 428 appear in Hebrew Scripture. From Jesus' words to the frightened disciples, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid" (Matthew 14:27), to the Psalmist's "my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast" (Psalm 22:14) and "All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the Lord weighs the heart" (Proverbs 21:2), the Bible is about being "all heart." Those who understand and follow the Golden Rule are all heart.
The human story is a story about heart talk: "[C]ommune with my heart" (Psalm 77:6), "despised in her heart" (2 Samuel 6:1), "faithfulness with all their heart" (1 Kings 2:4), "great searchings of heart" (Judges 5:15), "grieved him to his heart" (Genesis 6:6), "harden his heart" (Exodus 4:21), and "heart exults" (1 Samuel 2:1).
The heart "goes out to" (Judges 5:9), "overflows" (Psalm 45:1), "trembles for" (1 Samuel 4:13), "was merry within" (1 Samuel 25:26), "inclines" (1 Kings 11:2), "is true" (2 Chronicles 16:9), "is willing" (2 Chronicles 29:31), and "is wise" (Job 9:4).
We have things "on the heart" (Exodus 28:29), "keep in our heart" (Deuteronomy 6:5), "know in the heart" (Deuteronomy 8:2), "know the heart" (Exodus 23:9), "take to heart" (Deuteronomy 4:39), "experience sadness of the heart" (Nehemiah 2:2), "are stricken to the heart" (1 Samuel 24:5), "understand with the heart" (Matthew 13:15), "lose heart" (Deuteronomy 20:3), and "set the heart on" (Deuteronomy 7:7).
God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). God sustains the pure in heart (Psalm 73:1 and Matthew 5:8), the integrity of our heart (Genesis 20:6), and the uprightness of our heart (Deuteronomy 8:2), but not the hate within it (Leviticus 19:17). The creator would have all humanity be of a generous heart (Exodus 35:5).
God would have us love, serve, and live "with all your heart" (Deuteronomy 4:29), and relate to others in a way that shows we "forgive your brother or sister from your heart" (Matthew 18:35).
Patience With Me
Of the nineteen references to patience, two are from Hebrew Scripture: "With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break bones" (Proverbs 25:15) and "Is the Lord's patience exhausted?" (Micah 2:7).
Several passages from the Pauline letters are noteworthy guides that encourage nurturing a patient manner:
"Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" (Romans 2:3--4);
"Patience is among the fruits of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22);
"As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience" (Colossians 3:12);
"[P]roclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching" (2 Timothy 4:2); and
"[R]egard the patience of our Lord as salvation" (2 Peter 3:15).
Of the fourteen references to "patient," only one occurs in the Synoptic Gospels: "But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance" (Luke 8:15).
The philosopher offers these words about patience: "The patient in spirit are better than the proud in spirit" (Ecclesiastes 7:8b).
The Pauline epistles excel in counsel about being patient:
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer" (Romans 12:12);
"Love is patient" (1 Corinthians 13:4a);
"And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them" (1 Thessalonians 5:14);
"And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient" (2 Timothy 2:24); and
"The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
Mercy
For an extensive discussion of mercy in relation to being a good neighbor, see Cycle C, Parable 6, "The Good Samaritan." Is there room for mercy in the business end of relationship? If the king in the present parable were administering the accepted retribution in that day for one who could not repay a debt, how much more provoked he must have been when he yielded to his heart and practiced the mercy of a second chance.
Settle Accounts
Settling accounts takes on deeper meanings when married with forgiveness. Beyond providing monetary compensation for a claim or pencil checking the items on a list, the settling of accounts adds the nuance of putting one's life into order. In turn, old issues come to rest. The resultant settling down into calm and comfort displaces chaos.
On 116 occasions, a form of the word "settle" is used. In the New Testament in addition to the present passage, settling of accounts or of a case is mentioned in Matthew 25:19 and Luke 12:58, respectively. Ruth 3:18, 2 Samuel 20:18, 2 Kings 8:1, and Acts 19:39 mention settling a matter.
"Account" occurs 181 times. Among the relevant passages are Psalm 10:13: "Why do the wicked renounce God, / and say in their hearts, 'You will not call us to account'?" and Matthew 12:36: "I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter." Twice, Luke refers to "an orderly account": "Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us" (Luke 1:1) and "I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus" (Luke 1:3).
Seventy--seven
This number appears in three other places in the Bible. Lamech, son of Methuselah, died at the age of 777 years, that is, he lived to be very old. (See Genesis 5:31.) The two other occasions of this number, Judges 8:14 and Ezra 8:35, are unremarkable.
Seven
Of all the biblical references to seven, the one closest to Jesus' use here also occurs in Luke as a formula: "And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, 'I repent,' you must forgive" (Luke 17:4).
Seven was considered a holy number in the region. This number appears 327 times. The "seventh day" occurs 43 times beginning with creation: "And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation" (Genesis 2:2--3).
"Seven days" occurs on 79 occasions, most often in the Pentateuch. God warned Noah that in seven days the long rain would come. (See Genesis 7:4.) Noah sent out the dove from the ark in seven day intervals. (See Genesis 8:10ff.)
For seven days the Israelites wandering in the wilderness ate unleavened bread. (See Exodus 24:16.) "The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud" (Exodus 12:15).
The calculation of the year of jubilee is as follows: "You shall count off seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, so that the period of seven weeks of years gives forty--nine years" (Leviticus 25:8). Seven years occurs 34 times, among them seven years of famine and of plenty (Genesis 41:53) and seven years of service (Genesis 29:18ff). On the seventh year, as decreed by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, the land would observe a sabbath for God. This year was to be a complete year of rest for the land to replenish itself. (See Genesis 25:1.)
Everyone needs a break, even God and not only God: "It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed" (Exodus 31:17). God provided manna for six days but none on the seventh. On the sixth day, the Israelites found enough to last for two days. The people rested on the seventh day. (See Exodus 16:23--31.)
Furthermore, rest is to be complete. "But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work - you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it" (Exodus 20:10--11). See also Exodus 34:21.
Of the 21 references to seven in the Gospels, seven are in Matthew, six in Mark, and eight in Luke. There were seven loaves, and when the multitudes were fed, seven baskets remained. (See Matthew 15:34, 15:36 and 16:10, and Mark 8:5, 8:8, and 8:20.) Christ cast out seven demons from Mary Magdalene. (See Mark 16:9 and Luke 8:2.)
Only three references to seven months occur. See 1 Samuel 6:1, Ezekiel 39:12, and Ezekiel 39:14. However, "seven days" appears in 79 instances.
4. Parallel Scripture
Christ offers the rationale for forgiving in the passage following the prayer of our Savior: "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14--15).
The Situation
In the present Matthean passage, Peter presents the puzzle as a question. Jesus addresses Peter's question of how many times we are to forgive. In Luke, the forgiveness passage is part of a longer talk to the disciples. (See Luke 17:1ff.)
If
Matthew says "if another member of the church" (Matthew 18:21) while Luke says "if the same person" (Luke 17:4). Matthew says "sins against me" while Luke says "sins against you." Luke also says "seven times a day." He adds the sinner's further action of turning "back to you seven times." As a still further prerequisite to forgiveness, in the Lukan passage the sinner must say, "I repent." Luke says "If another disciple sins ... and if there is repentance" (Luke 17:3).
Then
According to the writer of Luke, Christ says "you must forgive." (See Luke 17:4.) In the present text, the implied "then" in Peter's question reads "how often should I forgive" (Matthew 18:21).
5. Chat Room
Heinrich: How can I forgive 77 times seven when someone wrongs me? It smarts so much. It stings. It hurts. Finally, someone goes too far. I cannot rise above it. I give up. I stop trying. I am a gentle person who cannot take this kind of chaos in my life.
Tatyana: Tenderhearted people are the very ones given the capacity to forgive. Hardhearted people don't care enough about others to be partners in their goals. Our determination to forgive focuses us in the other direction, beyond ourselves.
Heinrich: Beyond ourselves?
Tatyana: Yes, by some strange paradox, when we practice forgiving, the anger and hurt that suffocate the soul move over. The bruise begins to abate. The whole chemistry of our spirit regains its balance.
Heinrich: Because we put ourselves last?
Tatyana: Maybe so, but it is not a discounting of ourselves. That would enslave us to others. It is a moving beyond ourselves. This invites us to serve others, to recognize that they have possibility and we can help that hope to grow. We put the well--being of the other person first. As we are life--giving energy, we in turn heal.
Heinrich: Somehow, by a strength greater than us alone, we become inoculated against the venom of hurtful people. It is one of the mysteries of God, isn't it?
Tatyana: It is one of the mysteries.
Sharon: Hello. Renee and I just logged on and want to comment about today's parable, too. It is a story about heart to heart.
Renee: A passionate parable and a parable about passion.
Sharon: Even God, when betrayed, responds with the heart. But look out, Jesus says, if you do not exercise forgiveness to those you call brother and sister when you yourself have been forgiven by a generous--hearted God. Look out because next time God's generosity will evaporate. God will respond with as much fury as the king whose slave betrayed his good faith kindness by being mean to someone else.
Renee: So even God's patience runs out. Three times and you're out?
Sharon: Tough love.
Renee: Forgiveness, then, is more than an automatic response by an automatic God to our automatic request.
Sharon: Forgiveness is as active as the Golden Rule. God is a passionate God. Our Creator is as enthusiastic about forgiving us as God is about the creation and re--creation of the human family. God is passionate about hope.
Renee: So if you are forgiven, you must go and do likewise. You must act on the value of that forgiveness or you become empty in the soul.
Tatyana: Empty?
Renee: Yes, if you cannot allow forgiveness to change you for the better, then -
Tatyana: Sometimes I think the need for forgiveness lies within myself - my forgiving myself for wrongdoing, for being human, for falling short because I am less than perfect.
Heinrich: So forgiveness starts with God but does not amount to much if we fail to accept God's forgiveness?
Tatyana: That's right. Anyway, I'd like to talk with the person whom the employer handed over to be tortured.
Heinrich: Easily done electronically.
Tatyana: Sir, do you mind if we visit with you a bit about your present situation?
Michael: Okay.
Tatyana: I understand that you are still imprisoned for your debt. I find my emotions rise at the thought of your having been forgiven your debt and then turning around and - and - How could you clobber someone else when you yourself experienced the relief of having had your debt forgiven?
Michael: Yes, I am still imprisoned, but I am freer now than when I was first pardoned from my debt.
Tatyana: How is that?
Michael: When my employer forgave my debt, I did not understand the responsibility of what it means either to be forgiven or to forgive someone else. My employer forgave my mistakes, but I was still in bondage to them.
Tatyana: It is a matter of courage, then.
Michael: It takes courage to forgive someone and give another chance. And it takes courage to accept being forgiven and become a better person for it.
Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" [22] Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy--seven times.
[23] "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. [24] When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; [25] and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. [26] So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' [27] And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. [28] But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, 'Pay what you owe.' [29] Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' [30] But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. [31] When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. [32] Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. [33] Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' [34] And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. [35] So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."
2. What's Happening?
First Point Of Action
When Peter asks Christ how often, as many as seven times, he should forgive another member of the church who sins against him, Jesus says not seven times but 77 times.
Second Point Of Action
Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to the king who wishes to settle accounts with his slaves.
Third Point Of Action
When one slave cannot pay his debt of 10,000 talents, the king orders the slave, his wife, his children, and all his possessions to be sold and payment to be made.
Fourth Point Of Action
The slave falls on his knees, asking for patience and promising to pay him everything.
Fifth Point Of Action
Out of compassion for him, the king releases him and forgives the debt.
Sixth Point Of Action
The same slave, as he goes out, comes upon one of his fellow slaves who owes him a hundred denarii.
Seventh Point Of Action
He seizes his fellow slave by the throat and demands that he pay what he owes.
Eighth Point Of Action
The fellow slave falls down and pleads with him for patience and promises to pay his debt.
Ninth Point Of Action
The man refuses and throws him into prison until he will pay the debt.
Tenth Point Of Action
Fellow slaves, distressed by this, tell the king.
Eleventh Point Of Action
Summoning the slave, the king calls him wicked and tells him he forgave him his debt because he pleaded with him. The slave should have shown similar mercy on his fellow slave.
Twelfth Point Of Action
The angry king hands the slave over to be tortured until he will pay his entire debt.
Thirteenth Point Of Action
Christ reminds the disciples that his "heavenly Father" will act likewise to them if they do not forgive brother or sister from the heart.
3. Spadework
From Your Heart
Of the 514 references to "heart," 428 appear in Hebrew Scripture. From Jesus' words to the frightened disciples, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid" (Matthew 14:27), to the Psalmist's "my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast" (Psalm 22:14) and "All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the Lord weighs the heart" (Proverbs 21:2), the Bible is about being "all heart." Those who understand and follow the Golden Rule are all heart.
The human story is a story about heart talk: "[C]ommune with my heart" (Psalm 77:6), "despised in her heart" (2 Samuel 6:1), "faithfulness with all their heart" (1 Kings 2:4), "great searchings of heart" (Judges 5:15), "grieved him to his heart" (Genesis 6:6), "harden his heart" (Exodus 4:21), and "heart exults" (1 Samuel 2:1).
The heart "goes out to" (Judges 5:9), "overflows" (Psalm 45:1), "trembles for" (1 Samuel 4:13), "was merry within" (1 Samuel 25:26), "inclines" (1 Kings 11:2), "is true" (2 Chronicles 16:9), "is willing" (2 Chronicles 29:31), and "is wise" (Job 9:4).
We have things "on the heart" (Exodus 28:29), "keep in our heart" (Deuteronomy 6:5), "know in the heart" (Deuteronomy 8:2), "know the heart" (Exodus 23:9), "take to heart" (Deuteronomy 4:39), "experience sadness of the heart" (Nehemiah 2:2), "are stricken to the heart" (1 Samuel 24:5), "understand with the heart" (Matthew 13:15), "lose heart" (Deuteronomy 20:3), and "set the heart on" (Deuteronomy 7:7).
God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). God sustains the pure in heart (Psalm 73:1 and Matthew 5:8), the integrity of our heart (Genesis 20:6), and the uprightness of our heart (Deuteronomy 8:2), but not the hate within it (Leviticus 19:17). The creator would have all humanity be of a generous heart (Exodus 35:5).
God would have us love, serve, and live "with all your heart" (Deuteronomy 4:29), and relate to others in a way that shows we "forgive your brother or sister from your heart" (Matthew 18:35).
Patience With Me
Of the nineteen references to patience, two are from Hebrew Scripture: "With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break bones" (Proverbs 25:15) and "Is the Lord's patience exhausted?" (Micah 2:7).
Several passages from the Pauline letters are noteworthy guides that encourage nurturing a patient manner:
"Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" (Romans 2:3--4);
"Patience is among the fruits of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22);
"As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience" (Colossians 3:12);
"[P]roclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching" (2 Timothy 4:2); and
"[R]egard the patience of our Lord as salvation" (2 Peter 3:15).
Of the fourteen references to "patient," only one occurs in the Synoptic Gospels: "But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance" (Luke 8:15).
The philosopher offers these words about patience: "The patient in spirit are better than the proud in spirit" (Ecclesiastes 7:8b).
The Pauline epistles excel in counsel about being patient:
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer" (Romans 12:12);
"Love is patient" (1 Corinthians 13:4a);
"And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them" (1 Thessalonians 5:14);
"And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient" (2 Timothy 2:24); and
"The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
Mercy
For an extensive discussion of mercy in relation to being a good neighbor, see Cycle C, Parable 6, "The Good Samaritan." Is there room for mercy in the business end of relationship? If the king in the present parable were administering the accepted retribution in that day for one who could not repay a debt, how much more provoked he must have been when he yielded to his heart and practiced the mercy of a second chance.
Settle Accounts
Settling accounts takes on deeper meanings when married with forgiveness. Beyond providing monetary compensation for a claim or pencil checking the items on a list, the settling of accounts adds the nuance of putting one's life into order. In turn, old issues come to rest. The resultant settling down into calm and comfort displaces chaos.
On 116 occasions, a form of the word "settle" is used. In the New Testament in addition to the present passage, settling of accounts or of a case is mentioned in Matthew 25:19 and Luke 12:58, respectively. Ruth 3:18, 2 Samuel 20:18, 2 Kings 8:1, and Acts 19:39 mention settling a matter.
"Account" occurs 181 times. Among the relevant passages are Psalm 10:13: "Why do the wicked renounce God, / and say in their hearts, 'You will not call us to account'?" and Matthew 12:36: "I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter." Twice, Luke refers to "an orderly account": "Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us" (Luke 1:1) and "I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus" (Luke 1:3).
Seventy--seven
This number appears in three other places in the Bible. Lamech, son of Methuselah, died at the age of 777 years, that is, he lived to be very old. (See Genesis 5:31.) The two other occasions of this number, Judges 8:14 and Ezra 8:35, are unremarkable.
Seven
Of all the biblical references to seven, the one closest to Jesus' use here also occurs in Luke as a formula: "And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, 'I repent,' you must forgive" (Luke 17:4).
Seven was considered a holy number in the region. This number appears 327 times. The "seventh day" occurs 43 times beginning with creation: "And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation" (Genesis 2:2--3).
"Seven days" occurs on 79 occasions, most often in the Pentateuch. God warned Noah that in seven days the long rain would come. (See Genesis 7:4.) Noah sent out the dove from the ark in seven day intervals. (See Genesis 8:10ff.)
For seven days the Israelites wandering in the wilderness ate unleavened bread. (See Exodus 24:16.) "The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud" (Exodus 12:15).
The calculation of the year of jubilee is as follows: "You shall count off seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, so that the period of seven weeks of years gives forty--nine years" (Leviticus 25:8). Seven years occurs 34 times, among them seven years of famine and of plenty (Genesis 41:53) and seven years of service (Genesis 29:18ff). On the seventh year, as decreed by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, the land would observe a sabbath for God. This year was to be a complete year of rest for the land to replenish itself. (See Genesis 25:1.)
Everyone needs a break, even God and not only God: "It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed" (Exodus 31:17). God provided manna for six days but none on the seventh. On the sixth day, the Israelites found enough to last for two days. The people rested on the seventh day. (See Exodus 16:23--31.)
Furthermore, rest is to be complete. "But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work - you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it" (Exodus 20:10--11). See also Exodus 34:21.
Of the 21 references to seven in the Gospels, seven are in Matthew, six in Mark, and eight in Luke. There were seven loaves, and when the multitudes were fed, seven baskets remained. (See Matthew 15:34, 15:36 and 16:10, and Mark 8:5, 8:8, and 8:20.) Christ cast out seven demons from Mary Magdalene. (See Mark 16:9 and Luke 8:2.)
Only three references to seven months occur. See 1 Samuel 6:1, Ezekiel 39:12, and Ezekiel 39:14. However, "seven days" appears in 79 instances.
4. Parallel Scripture
Christ offers the rationale for forgiving in the passage following the prayer of our Savior: "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14--15).
The Situation
In the present Matthean passage, Peter presents the puzzle as a question. Jesus addresses Peter's question of how many times we are to forgive. In Luke, the forgiveness passage is part of a longer talk to the disciples. (See Luke 17:1ff.)
If
Matthew says "if another member of the church" (Matthew 18:21) while Luke says "if the same person" (Luke 17:4). Matthew says "sins against me" while Luke says "sins against you." Luke also says "seven times a day." He adds the sinner's further action of turning "back to you seven times." As a still further prerequisite to forgiveness, in the Lukan passage the sinner must say, "I repent." Luke says "If another disciple sins ... and if there is repentance" (Luke 17:3).
Then
According to the writer of Luke, Christ says "you must forgive." (See Luke 17:4.) In the present text, the implied "then" in Peter's question reads "how often should I forgive" (Matthew 18:21).
5. Chat Room
Heinrich: How can I forgive 77 times seven when someone wrongs me? It smarts so much. It stings. It hurts. Finally, someone goes too far. I cannot rise above it. I give up. I stop trying. I am a gentle person who cannot take this kind of chaos in my life.
Tatyana: Tenderhearted people are the very ones given the capacity to forgive. Hardhearted people don't care enough about others to be partners in their goals. Our determination to forgive focuses us in the other direction, beyond ourselves.
Heinrich: Beyond ourselves?
Tatyana: Yes, by some strange paradox, when we practice forgiving, the anger and hurt that suffocate the soul move over. The bruise begins to abate. The whole chemistry of our spirit regains its balance.
Heinrich: Because we put ourselves last?
Tatyana: Maybe so, but it is not a discounting of ourselves. That would enslave us to others. It is a moving beyond ourselves. This invites us to serve others, to recognize that they have possibility and we can help that hope to grow. We put the well--being of the other person first. As we are life--giving energy, we in turn heal.
Heinrich: Somehow, by a strength greater than us alone, we become inoculated against the venom of hurtful people. It is one of the mysteries of God, isn't it?
Tatyana: It is one of the mysteries.
Sharon: Hello. Renee and I just logged on and want to comment about today's parable, too. It is a story about heart to heart.
Renee: A passionate parable and a parable about passion.
Sharon: Even God, when betrayed, responds with the heart. But look out, Jesus says, if you do not exercise forgiveness to those you call brother and sister when you yourself have been forgiven by a generous--hearted God. Look out because next time God's generosity will evaporate. God will respond with as much fury as the king whose slave betrayed his good faith kindness by being mean to someone else.
Renee: So even God's patience runs out. Three times and you're out?
Sharon: Tough love.
Renee: Forgiveness, then, is more than an automatic response by an automatic God to our automatic request.
Sharon: Forgiveness is as active as the Golden Rule. God is a passionate God. Our Creator is as enthusiastic about forgiving us as God is about the creation and re--creation of the human family. God is passionate about hope.
Renee: So if you are forgiven, you must go and do likewise. You must act on the value of that forgiveness or you become empty in the soul.
Tatyana: Empty?
Renee: Yes, if you cannot allow forgiveness to change you for the better, then -
Tatyana: Sometimes I think the need for forgiveness lies within myself - my forgiving myself for wrongdoing, for being human, for falling short because I am less than perfect.
Heinrich: So forgiveness starts with God but does not amount to much if we fail to accept God's forgiveness?
Tatyana: That's right. Anyway, I'd like to talk with the person whom the employer handed over to be tortured.
Heinrich: Easily done electronically.
Tatyana: Sir, do you mind if we visit with you a bit about your present situation?
Michael: Okay.
Tatyana: I understand that you are still imprisoned for your debt. I find my emotions rise at the thought of your having been forgiven your debt and then turning around and - and - How could you clobber someone else when you yourself experienced the relief of having had your debt forgiven?
Michael: Yes, I am still imprisoned, but I am freer now than when I was first pardoned from my debt.
Tatyana: How is that?
Michael: When my employer forgave my debt, I did not understand the responsibility of what it means either to be forgiven or to forgive someone else. My employer forgave my mistakes, but I was still in bondage to them.
Tatyana: It is a matter of courage, then.
Michael: It takes courage to forgive someone and give another chance. And it takes courage to accept being forgiven and become a better person for it.
