“Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
~ Matthew 18:21-22
Should you forgive someone who has hurt you, intentionally or unintentionally? They say you should forgive and forget, but is it really that simple to forgive a person who has hurt you?
If anyone could even quantify the pain and shame the victim had endured; those sleepless night; those moments of loneliness; the silent cries of being left out; those hurtful words allegedly spoken against you; tears and heart wreck – is it really that easy to forget and forgive?
Forgiving is not admitting that what your enemy did to you was okay, is not saying your pain doesn’t count. Forgiving others does not mean you are obligated to become best friends with your enemies overnight neither does it give the person who had hurt you the permission to repeat their actions.
In the Gospel of Matthew 18:21-22, 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
This is not an arithmetic question where Jesus suggested Peter to give a tally of 490 times from the offenders. What Jesus was saying is that there is no limit to forgiveness! Jesus wants us to understand that unforgiveness can imprison us. Let us remember that when Jesus carried the Cross in pain towards Golgotha, when he was spit on, shamed and ridiculed, Jesus asked the Father to forgive the people.
Jesus knew what hurt and suffering are like. Jesus chose to forgive. Let us remember what Jesus said – forgive. Let it go. Let unforgiveness not become a yoke for us to carry for the rest of our lives. Don’t let unforgiveness choke you, control you, restrain you and refrain you from living purposefully.
You hold the power to break free from unforgiveness. Choose to forgive
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, today I chose to forgive, I chose to forgive (Name) who has hurt me. Today I am set free from the bondage of unforgiveness and I now have a clean and new beginning in Jesus. I found my purpose to living and will follow your ways in my life. I give thanks. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.