Matthew 18:21-22

“Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.’ “

God’s heart cannot be understood because His mercy endures forever. The Lord is so long-suffering and persevering in love that it is easy for the sons of Men to take Him for granted. God keeps forgiving and forgiving and forgiving. And despite our weaknesses and failures, He does not cast us away but keeps hoping for a change of heart tomorrow. God’s love is unfathomable. And that’s the heart He expects of us.

In verse 22, Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven,” indicating the unlimited number of times God expects us to forgive one another. Forgiveness is divine and those who forgive bear the divine nature. Having been forgiven an innumerable number of times, God’s expectation of us is that we likewise forgive innumerably. For as many as bear His image, forgiveness comes naturally, and if we struggle with forgiveness, then we need to return to the Source, that He may imprint on our hearts afresh, His heart of love and forgiveness. As we have received pardon unlimited times, we must extend the same grace to those who hurt and offend us.

“Father, I know I can be harsh, but help me always to express Your divine nature of forgiveness at all times. O Lord, even when repeated forgiveness hurts, fill me with Your heart of love so that I can do it naturally. In Jesus name. Amen.”