Proper 19: Gospel, Matthew 18:21-35                       

Matthew 18:21-35

“Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven’” (Matthew 18:22). I’m not sure there are any more wonderful statements on forgiveness from the lips of our Lord. He’s at it again. Telling one of his parable-stories, but just before he does, Peter asks his master about the extent of forgiveness when anyone has offended you. Most of us are familiar with Peter’s assumption that his suggestions of forgiving seven times would garner high praise from the Lord. Seven times. Seventy times seven. These are numbers which press the limit. Well at least to the mind of a sinful fisherman.

Jesus answers that, in effect, our forgiveness of others, like his for us, has no limit. Harkening back to the prayer he taught his disciples on the mount, Jesus is saying simply, in a different form, that to be a child of the God of forgiveness is to live life putting that character on display, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but …” (Matthew 6:14-15a). To read the rest of verse 15 we find that Jesus identifies his followers as forgivers. Plain and simple.

Read again this marvelous parable in Matthew 18 and take the time to relish the announcement of full forgiveness and then watch what that fosters in the one forgiven. What does God’s full and complete forgiveness of you and me foster? Part of our family resemblance with our elder brother Jesus is the family trait of forgiveness. We saw it time and again in the life of Joseph whom we referenced in our Old Testament reading this week. And we see it not only taught but lived out in our New Testament “Joseph” who is treasured by his Father and loves his brethren to the end.

Forgiveness is big in the Bible. God's forgiveness is BIG in the Bible. The numbers don’t lie.