"490 Times"

JC Wheeler

"No, not seven times," Jesus replied, "but seventy times seven!" Matt 18:22 NLT

Peter asks Jesus about the number of times he should forgive, and Jesus responds by emphasizing the need for unlimited forgiveness. Instead of forgiving someone merely seven times, Jesus instructs his followers to extend forgiveness seventy times seven, emphasizing the boundless and gracious nature of forgiveness.

The Bible emphasizes that God is the ultimate model of forgiveness. God's forgiveness is seen as unconditional, merciful, and abundant. Scriptures such as Psalm 103:12 and Micah 7:18-19 highlight God's forgiveness, describing how He removes our sins from us and casts them into the depths of the sea.

The Bible commands believers to forgive others just as God has forgiven them. Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:14-15 that if we forgive others, God will also forgive us, but if we withhold forgiveness, we cannot expect to receive forgiveness from God.

1. Matthew 6:14-15: "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

2. Ephesians 4:32: "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

3. Colossians 3:13: "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

4. Luke 17:3-4: "Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him."

5. Mark 11:25: "And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

6. Matthew 5:23-24: "So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

7. Psalm 103:12: "As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us."

8. Micah 7:18-19: "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."