Does Forgiveness Have Its Limits? By Ed McDowell

Jesus’ Perspective on Forgiveness

Peter asks Jesus a practical question about the limits of forgiveness for a repeat offender in one’s life.

“Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!”

Matthew 18:21-22 NLT

Reflect on Forgiveness

Take time to note the details of Peter’s question.

• How often is forgiveness required?
• Is there a limit to forgiveness for repeat offenders in our lives?

Jesus responds with a point of information followed by a story: “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!”

The story is about a man who owed a king millions of dollars but was unable to repay it. Jesus tells the story like this: 

“Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him.

In the process, one of his debtors was brought in, who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.

“But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.”

 Matthew 18:23-27, NLT

It was fair of the King to ask people to pay back what they had borrowed from him. Think for a minute of how many debt transactions it takes to rack up millions of dollars of debt.

Even though the man pleaded for more time, the King could see that the capacity did not exist to pay this impossible amount of debt, which had accumulated over time.

Instead of doing what the King could have rightfully done to recover some of what was owed, he is filled with pity for the man and his family. He forgives all of the debt.

There is More to This Story

“But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.

His fellow servant fell before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and imprisoned until the debt could be paid in full.

When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me.

Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

Matthew 18:28-35, NLT

Remember Peter’s question? Does forgiveness have limits? The answer is no. We are to receive the forgiveness of God offered through Christ with gratitude. We are meant to become generous forgivers of others as well.

Jesus drives this point home with these final words: “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

Encouragement

When it comes to sin, we all have accumulated an overwhelming amount of debt to repay. God, through Jesus Christ, has mercy on us and invites us into complete and total forgiveness.

This forgiveness is meant to change the trajectory of our lives for the better. Being debt-free of sin, we can freely forgive others who have sinned against us.

In response to Peter’s question about the limits of forgiveness, Jesus expects us to accept the unlimited forgiveness given to us and share it freely with others by forgiving those who have wronged us.

This forgiveness, given to us freely by God out of His mercy, is meant to change our hearts towards others, offering the same mercy God gave us by forgiving others the debts they owe us.

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for forgiving me of an impossible amount of sin (debt). No matter how hard I try, I would never be able to repay what is owed to God. Through you, I am free of this large, impossible debt. I am forgiven. I am free.

Please help me be generous in forgiving others, no matter how many times or how big the offense is. Let me bring the mercy extended to me through your forgiveness, and be forgiving of them.

Thank you for that. There are no limits on forgiveness.

May I always be a generous and forgiving person to others on all occasions.

In your name, Jesus, I pray,

Amen

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Ed McDowell is the CEO of Warm Beach Camp Ministries. He also coaches and consults on board leadership and development, bringing fresh perspectives to complex situations. Ed authorizes a devotional series titled A Well-Planted Faith in an Uprooted Culture. His writing and speaking aim to challenge people to let God’s Word inform their lives. Ed and his wife, Bev, live on Camano Island, Washington, where they live out their mission statement: “to give our lives away for the cause of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible.”

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