Anchor My Faith

Is it 3 or 7 or 77 Times

Scripture: Matthew 18:22; Luke 17:4-6

In lesson h412, we considered the problem of a member of the church who had committed sin. We saw the steps that are to use in trying to bring him or her to the point of repentance and forgiveness. In lesson h413, we saw the authority that was given to two or three assembled with Jesus in making decisions concerning members who sin and those who need to hear the gospel. In this lesson Peter raises a question about forgiveness.

^{Mt 18:21} “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?”’

Based on Job 33:29 – 30 and Amos 1:3; 2:6, we can determine that within Judaism, three times was sufficient to show a forgiving spirit toward someone. Beyond that a forgiving spirit was not considered necessary. Peter extends the three times to seven times, to show generosity, and asks if that was a sufficient number of times to forgive someone of their sin.

^{Lk 17:4} “[Jesus said to him], “If he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” ^{Mt 18:22} Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” ^{Lk 17:5} The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”’

Jesus responds to Peter and tells him if that one was to sin against him seven times in one day, and then turns to you seven times in repentance, you must forgive him. Jesus then pushes the limit higher to seventy-seven to stress the need to forgive without keeping count. We find these two numbers being used in Genesis 4:24 ESV: “If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.” When Peter hears the number seventy-seven times, he responds, Lord, “increase our faith!” To which I am reminded of our brothers and sisters who are mistreated day after day because of their faith in Jesus and as the abuse against them mounts, they must continue to love and forgive those who persecute them.

If a person sins against us and then repents and seeks forgiveness, then it is our duty to grant that forgiveness, however, if he does not seek forgiveness, we are not at liberty to treat him with revenge and malice but are to treat him with kindness and encourage him to do good.

Jesus responds to Peters request for more faith. ^{Lk 17:6} “And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”’

From the response of Jesus, it appears that it is not the amount of faith that is important but a genuine trust in God. It is not what I think I have (the size of my faith) that is important but an understanding who God is and what he can accomplish for us. We must consider a verse like this in view of other verses and their context. For example: John 15:7 ESV: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”; and James 1:6 – 8 ESV: ⁶ “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Conclusion

Peter should not expect his faith to move the mulberry tree from where it was and be planted in the sea, but to see signs in his preaching, healing and perseverance and as he encounters those who sin against him the ability to continue to forgive.