How Many Times? - Matthew 18:21-22

Matthew 18:21-22     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?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. (NIV)

            I grew up in a large family with three brothers and two sisters. Usually, we all got along very well, but sometimes a fight would break out and we would end up pitching fits against each other. My poor mother had to come in and stop the racket, scold us for fighting, and then get us to apologize to one another. Sometimes I didn’t want to do this, so I was sent to my room until I was willing to say sorry and reconcile with my brothers and sisters.

            When I read of Peter asking Jesus about how many times he should forgive his brother, I know exactly how that feels. It makes me like Peter even more because he’s just so completely human. He expresses what is on his mind and this passage shows us that he feels as though his brother or sister is taking him for granted. Peter reckons that if he has forgiven his sibling seven times then that is more than generous. He wants Jesus to affirm what he feels; he’s not really asking a question, he’s asking for approval.

            As usual, Jesus uses the moment to teach Peter about forgiveness. The reply Jesus gives is as if Jesus is saying to him, “Only seven times? Not even seventy-seven times would be enough.”

            Forgiveness is a gift that we all seek from God on a daily basis. I guess if I was to add up the number of times that God has forgiven me, it would run into the millions. And because God is so willing to pardon and forgive me, He expects me to do the same with others – my family, my friends, church members, work colleagues, neighbors, and even my enemies. Forgiveness is one of the most important aspects of our Christian faith, so we should practice and apply it on a daily basis.

Point to ponder

Have I withheld forgiveness for someone? Am I willing to let God help me to forgive?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, forgiveness was so important to You that You were willing to sacrifice Your life so we could all be forgiven. Grant us the courage and strength to forgive those who have hurt, disappointed, or angered us. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s Gospel drawings called “Washed with Tears.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Tears.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can view the church website at this link: www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Christian devotions: Mea Culpa - Luke 18:13

Luke 18:13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’”

As many of you know, my mother was a Roman Catholic and when she was both young and fit, she went to Sunday Mass. She grew up in the days when all Masses were said in Latin, which she learned to recite at an early age. In later years, in the midst of her tragic moments of insanity, she would sometimes wail and beat her breast, saying, “Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.”

At the time I had no idea what she was doing. It was only when I went to Divinity School that I learned the meaning of the phrase. It was once used by Roman Catholics at Latin Mass just before they took communion. It literally means, “I’m to blame, I’m to blame, I’m totally to blame.” It comes from today’s passage (Luke 18:9-14) when Jesus told the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

The tax collector recognizes his unworthiness before God and beats his breast. He knows that he has done something wrong, so he feels that he cannot approach God or even look up to Heaven. He also knows that his only hope is in receiving God’s mercy: he cannot do anything to obtain this; he cannot justify his sinful choices; he can only stand and wait for God’s forgiveness.

As Jesus points out in the parable, the tax collector’s sincere, contrite, and humble prayer is heard by God and answered compassionately. This is an example of God’s grace through Christ, which we all need every day of our lives.

The beautiful blessing of Christianity abides in this: when we make mistakes, they are not irredeemable; and when we sincerely confess them to Jesus, He forgives completely.

Questions for personal reflection

Do I still have something in my life that remains un-confessed? Do I want to be forgiven?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You know us completely, even those sins and mistakes that we are ashamed of or too proud to confess. Help us to pray about them and encourage to humbly ask You for mercy. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Fall drawings. It’s called “Autumn Magic” and features the Glade Creek Grist Mill which is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/8041616084_bbd1f3b6ec_b.jpg