The Lord says:
"When many others choose to harbor unforgiveness, you choose to forgive and let go. There is power in forgiving and letting go. When you choose to forgive and let go, I will know how to take over and stand up for you. Receive therefore the grace to forgive. Release those who have spoken ill against you or done harm against you. I will come to your rescue and I will come to your defence."
Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV) says, 'Then Peter came to Him (Jesus) and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."'
Before I explain these verses, let's look at the definition of the word 'forgive'. The word 'forgive' here is 'aphiemi' in Greek. It can mean 'to lay aside, to leave it, to let go (a matter or a person)'.
'To forgive' can also be defined as 'to stop feeling resentment or angry towards someone for an offense, flaw, or mistake.'
But what does it mean by 'up to seven times' and 'up to seventy times seven'? What is the difference?
When you look at the meaning of '7' and '70' in Hebrew numeric, you will see something.
'7' in Hebrew numeric can mean 'perfect, perfection, in a perfect way, complete in every way'. Therefore, to forgive 'up to seven times' means 'to forgive perfectly'.
But you may say, "I find it very difficult to forgive perfectly!"
That leads us to the number '70'. What is the number '70' in Hebrew numeric? It speaks of God's Spirit! Therefore, to forgive 'up to seventy times seven' means 'to forgive perfectly with the help of the Holy Spirit'.
In other words, by yourself, you may find it hard to forgive, and sometimes even impossible to forgive. But with the help of God's Spirit, that is the Holy Spirit, it is possible and it is so much easier. So, that is the difference between 'seven times' and 'seventy times seven'.
'Seven times' can mean 'depending on your own self to forgive', whereas 'seventy times seven' can mean 'depending on the Holy Spirit to work in you to forgive'.
This is possible, if you are willing to give the Holy Spirit a chance, and if you are willing to give yourself a chance. It is liberating. It is healing. It sets you free. That's why forgiveness is so powerful.
By the way, do you know on what occasion the word 'forgive' was first mentioned in the Scripture? Speaking of The Law of First Mention. The answer is Genesis 50. And that's about Joseph forgiving his brothers for what they have done against him - throwing him into a pit and selling him off to be a slave in a foreign country.
Let's look at Genesis 50:15-17. When Joseph's brothers saw their father (Jacob) was dead, they said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil we did to him." So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Before your father died he commanded, saying, 'Thus you shall say to Joseph: "I beg you, please forgive the trespasses of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you."' Now, please, forgive the trespasses of the servants of the God of your father."
Let's look further in Genesis 50:19-21. Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
You see, Joseph could have exacted revenge on the brothers now that the father's dead. But he had a big heart. He chose to forgive. He chose to forgive his brothers for whatever harm done against him in the past. As a result, God's name is glorified. There's reconciliation and unity again among the sons of Jacob (or the sons of Israel).
Now, all this happened simply because Joseph chose to forgive. May you choose to forgive as well. And may the Lord grant you the peace to forgive.
Let's continue with Genesis 50:22-23. So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father's household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. Joseph saw Ephraim's children to the third generation.
In other words, Joseph lived to see his great-grandchildren. That's the third generation. This is indeed a blessing! The blessing of a long life and the blessing of living to see not just his grandchildren, but his great-grandchildren. Amen!
