Have you ever read something multiple times but somehow missed something very significant? I know I have which is why I never consider I’ve gleaned everything I can from reading the Bible only once – it is a continual discovery. Today it was the word ‘brother’ that captured my attention (do read ‘sister’ as well). In Matthew 18:21 Peter asks Jesus how many times should he forgive his brother who sinned against him – 7 times? I’ve read this passage multiple times. Most of the time the focus is on forgiving and the emphasis is on Jesus’s answer of seventy times seven – implying an unlimited number of times.
However, in reading this passage this time I saw ‘brother’. Not an unbeliever, not a stranger, not an accident (since Peter asks – up to 7 times – thus indicating this was not the first time this happened to him), but a brother. (Your definition of ‘brother’ has to include close personal friends as well as your biological brother/sister.) Nickel drop. It’s one thing to be ‘sinned on’ by a stranger or even an acquaintance… but a brother?! And then to hear that you are to forgive them … basically, always?! Totally different mindset. Your frame of reference has just suffered an incredible paradigm shift.
I would argue that it takes far more strength of character to forgive someone who is close to you than it ever would be for someone who is more removed. It is the brother who is aware of your warts and shortcomings and they know how to really hurt you. So whether or not what was done/said or not done/said by your brother was intentional or an accident – you must forgive. But is there also an implied addendum?
Whatever happened may be something you forgive but do you go the step further and trust them again? Do you try and never hold it over their head? Do you still love them? As a Christian we are commanded to love so again there really isn’t any question – but the ‘how’ is in our hands. Unconditionally is how the Lord acts toward us when we do this to Him – He continues to trust us and He always loves us. This is how we are to respond. Never easy. But not a question.
