THIRD WEEK OF LENT .......... TUESDAY
MATHEW 18:21-35...... YOUR FATHER WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU UNLESS YOU EACH FORGIVE YOUR BROTHER FORM YOUR HEART
God's generosity knows no bounds. He not only forgave us of our sins through the sacrifice of his Son but also admits us into his presence in heaven.We are sinful puny creatures like the dirt of the field and yet God who is eternally holy and almighty forgives us each time we turn to him. God reaches out to us despite this unbridgeable difference because of his infinite love. Jesus wants us to be like his Father, " Be holy as I am Holy " Lev. 11:44 and " Be perfect as my Father is perfect " Math. 5:48. and in Luke 17:4 " And even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and turns to you seven times and says, 'I repent ' (I am sorry), you must forgive him (give up resentment and consider the offence as recalled and annulled)"
The number "seventy seven" or seventy times seven is a very precise number. That is, this number is found only one other time in the Bible and it is in Genesis 4:24 and the story of Cain, the murderer, and Lamech. Cain gets revenge seven times and Lamech gets revenge "seventy-seven times, or seventy times seven." How often am I to revenge my brother for murder? "Seventy-seven times." After the fall of Adam and Eve, the world had become a violent and murderous place. The story of Lamech symbolizes the cycle of hate, revenge and murder. And Jesus breaks that cycle of hate and revenge. How many times shall I revenge my brother with one more murder? Seventy-seven times? Jesus teaches that we are not to seek revenge, but to forgive our brother and sister seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:22 reverses Genesis 4:24.
In Luke 23:34 Jesus prayed " Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing "
This kind of a forgiving attitude is not possible in the natural realm ; it is possible only by the power of God. Therefore like the disciples in Luke 17:5 let us pray " Lord , increase our faith. " and seek God's power and grace.
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