We identify with Peter the disciple because he often said what others might have been thinking but were afraid to say (including us). For example, he once asked Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?” (Matthew 18:21) Or, as we might put it, “At what point can I stop forgiving my brother who sins against me?”

In rabbinical writings from Jesus’ day, discussions can be found about forgiveness. The consensus was that a brother could be forgiven three times for a repeated sin—but not more. So when Peter answered his own question by suggesting he was willing to forgive seven times, he might have been thinking he was a generous person. But Jesus took away the limits on forgiveness by saying we should forgive “seventy times seven” times (Matthew 18:22). Jesus said as much when He told the disciples to ask God to forgive them from their sins as they forgave the sins of others (Matthew 6:12). That is, if you don’t want God to limit His forgiveness of you, don’t limit your forgiveness of others (Matthew 6:14-15).

Is there anyone in your life today that you need to forgive?

Forgiveness is to be set loose from sins.
G. Campbell Morgan