Epiphony
How many times should you forgive others? People always say 490, because Jesus said 70 X 7 (Matt 18:22). That's what I was taught, and when I was younger, I just figured it was because no one could really keep up with how many times they had forgiven someone.
I was reading through Daniel 9 again, (the chapter about the 70 sevens). Verse 24 states, "Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy." (NIV)
I don't remember what I was looking for at the time, but when I read that (again for the umpteenth time), something clicked, and I thought about Jesus saying to forgive 70 X 7. And, that 70 X 7 is the same thing as 70 sevens. So Jesus was not saying 490 times, He was saying to keep forgiving until the end of transgression, until the end of sin. Which also coincides with the many other things Jesus taught, for example, If you do not forgive others, you will not be forgiven. (Matt 6:12, 14-15; Matt 18: 21 - 35, and others). Treat others the way you want to be treated (Matt 7:12). And no one wants God to stop forgiving them at 490 times.
If someone is persistant in causing you pain or grief, you do not have to spend time with them, but you do have to forgive them, if you want to be forgiven. Jesus said "turn the other cheek" (Matt 5:39, 6:29) not go and be a doormat. Turning the other cheek, means to forgive and let it go - don't attack back. And, as it states in Ecclesiastes 3, sometimes there is a time to fight. The time to fight, is only when, no matter what you do to avoid them and go your own way, is when the other person to be persistant and refuses to allow you to avoid them & go your own way.
