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Seventy-seven times!
'..."How many times shall I forgive?..."' Matthew 18:21
In the book of Genesis Cain kills his brother Abel, but bizarrely God's judgment is to put a mark on him, saying that if anyone killed Cain they'd pay for it seven times over. Cain had a great-great grandson, called Lamech. One day somebody hurt Lamech, who then killed the guy, saying, 'I have killed a man for wounding me...If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times' (Genesis 4:23-24 NIV).
In his mind he was absolutely justified. The guy who did him wrong, had it coming. The spirit of revenge is never satisfied. Simply stated: It doesn't work!
Fast forward to the New Testament, Peter had been hurt by someone close to him, and it happened more than once. So he went to Jesus and asked, 'How many times do I have to forgive? Seven times?' Peter thought he was being dead generous and expected Jesus to pat him on the back but Jesus deflated his ego by saying he must forgive the offender, 'not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'
Where did Jesus get that number? From the Old Testament. Jesus knew the Scriptures well, so He chose it deliberately. He was tearing up the story of Lamech once and for all! So what about you; you can follow in the footsteps of Lamech and retaliate, or you can follow Jesus and keep extending forgiveness; but you can't do both!
written by Bob Gass
