Hebdomēkontakis

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven (hebdomēkontakis). Matt 18:21-22

Back in the days of Jesus, saying seventy times seven was almost like saying infinity. The word translated seventy times seven is the Greek word hebdomēkontakis and it also means countless times. As in, unable to count times. Seventy times seven was a lot in those days, not like now when a billion just doesn't seem like that big a number since we hear alot about billions these days.

And, inevitably, in His infinite wisdom and work of changing us into His image, the Lord Almighty puts people in our path, that require us to forgive them countless times.

Jesus then went on to tell a parable of what happens when someone doesn't forgive. They are turned over to the tormenters until every last bit of debt is paid. Matt 18:23-35. Unforgiveness is a sin that carries it's own consequences with it. If you hold a grudge (which is unforgiveness) it is like a seed against that person within your mind. A seed that grows and festers and becomes a giant of unforgiveness. The seed of unforgiveness becomes the tormenter of your mind. It is better to pick out the seed and toss it away in the form of forgiving someone right away, then to later battle it like an old enemy giant later on.

You don't have to necessarily say to that person "I forgive you." because most offenses people do against us, they probably do completely unawares, maybe they said something overly harsh that stuck to you that day. But to give that seed to the Father, because He is really the one that can help us forgive and be forgiving. Forgive at the point of injury and don't allow that seed to take root and grow into something horrendous later.

Blessings in Christ
Linda