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what does forgiveness actually require?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I don't tell you until seven times, but, 'Until seventy times seven.'"

This passage is from the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus is teaching his disciples about life in the community of his followers. Peter's question about how often to forgive comes after Jesus has spoken about confronting a sinning brother and the importance of reconciliation.

What might it mean to approach forgiveness not as a finite limit, but as an ongoing stance?

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Read alongside it

  • Luke 17:3-4

    Jesus gives a similar teaching, emphasizing forgiving 'seven times a day' if someone repents.

  • Colossians 3:13

    Paul encourages followers to bear with one another and forgive, just as the Lord forgave them.

  • Psalm 103:2-3

    A psalm praising God for forgiving sins and healing diseases, showcasing divine forgiveness.

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