Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven times."

Thus, we have our modern conception of forgiveness. This excerpt comes from the book of Matthew in its 18th chapter, verses 21 and 22, and is most definitely out of context. Allow me to alleviate that issue before I elaborate on the nature of Forgiveness. Peter's question to Jesus is a follow-up to Jesus' own explanation for working with someone who has wronged us. Firstly, we are to meet with them one on one and point out the wronging, and if that does not convince them, then we are to gather one or two others along to further explain how wrong was done. The thinking there being that if two to three people thoughtfully agree that wrong was done, then it should be enough to convince a person that they were in the wrong. And if THAT doesn't sway them, then gather the church, let the whole body decide among themselves where justice lies and further try to convince the wrong-doer. If that doesn't work Jesus says "treat them like you would a pagan or a tax collector." (Matt 18:17b)

Now, hold on, that could mean a couple things. On the one hand Jesus explicitly states that we are called to love our neighbors and even our enemies during his Sermon on the Mount, but on the other hand Jesus knows that the Jewish people hate pagans and tax collectors, who represent those who would or have subjected them to a rule other than their own self-governance or a religion beyond their own. Between these two contexts I should think that Jesus is invoking the latter when he says "treat them like you would a pagan or tax collector."

But, Jesus doesn't end his statement there, as is his M.O. he goes on to say "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them." (Matt 18:18-20)

And then Peter asks his question that I opened this article with...

What?

Not only does Jesus not so much as mention forgiveness throughout this explanation of dealing with someone who has wronged us, but Peter brings this up after Jesus just talked about binding and loosing things and that he is in the midst of groups of two or more gathered in his name. How did Peter even think to ask about forgiveness?

I don't know for certain why Peter responded the way he did to Jesus' exhortation, but I can tell you he was trying to be impressive. For the Jewish, 7 represents the full completion of, well, anything, so for Peter to suggest forgiving the same person seven times over is saint-like. And Jesus then raises the ante up to seventy times seven times, i.e. "Let's just stop counting and always practice forgiveness."

Perhaps Peter just knew how Jesus wanted his disciples to treat pagans and tax collectors, as their neighbor, as someone to love. (Matt 5:43-48 Note: It's worth diving into the idea that love is linked to perfection, but not in this article)

And so, I enter the picture nearly 2,000 years later.

Two. Thousand. Years.

There's a lot of forgiveness still to be given, a lot of pain leftover from centuries of fighting. Injustices committed by the mighty against the weak, the scornful against the innocent, and from one person to another. How am I to forgive the extremist attacks of multiple terrorist groups? Do I dare forgive the rapist? The murderer? How am I to forgive those who defile the beauty of human life, or that of nature? What does forgiveness accomplish if these actions will only repeat themselves?

"A king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants met with a servant who owed him ten thousand bags of gold. Since the servant was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. At this the servant fell on his knees before the king, 'Be patient with me', he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servants' master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go." (Matt 18: 23-27)

That is what we idealize when we talk about forgiveness. Mercy. Undeserved, unconditional. And what does the servant do with this freedom given to him?

"But when the servant went out, he found on of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him. 'Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.' But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that happened. Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master hand him over the to jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed." (Matt 18: 28-34)

What does forgiveness accomplish if the wrong doer will only repeat themselves? Firstly, I am as much the forgiver as the wrong-doer. If I can be forgiven of my wrongs, should I not also forgive the wrongs of others? Secondly, forgiveness can really surprise a wrong-doer, and 'cause them to turn away from their wrong-doing, quite unlike the servant in the above parable.

So we forgive, and if the wrong-doer continues, we do not stop forgiving, but as Jesus said, meet with them one on one and explain the wrong, and if they do not turn from their wrong, then gather one to two more, if they will not repent (literally 'turn around' from their wrongs), then a whole crowd to explain. Much like the 'Interventions' we see in comedy TV now-a-days. If they do not repent even then are we told to stop forgiving them? No, but to treat them as loved, even if they are different from 'us'.

And so, Jesus answers what to do with the unrepentant wrong-doer even before the question is asked. He assumes forgiveness. And through that forgiveness, we are enabled to continue to have relationship with one another, despite being wronged by one another daily. You'll notice in the parable that the terrible servant was tortured as a response for what he did to his fellow servant, and what does Jesus say about this end to his parable?

"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother and sister from your heart." (Matt 18:35)

Sounds like a threat honestly, and it honestly is. This is more Christian rhetoric, but the common understanding is that God loves each member of His creation and vehemently defends His creation. That's all of us. And the earth, the universe, and all therein. To begrudge a person is to defile them in its own way, and God claims final authority in all judicial matters, thus Jesus' conclusion.

Forgiveness is hard..., but worth it. It takes a person, a group, a community, a city, a district, a region, a state, a nation, and a world to attain the peace that comes from forgiveness, but each step closer is worth it. Peace is more hard-won than the fiercest of wars.

Note: Upon finishing this article, I realize this is a concept that is perhaps uniquely Christian (though to what degree is debatable) and it is full of material that is difficult to address, as an example I didn't really address the binding and loosing on earth translating to heaven in the main article, but it does tie into our responsibility to forgive each other, and furthermore there is a case of cognitive dissonance between God as Judge and God as Merciful Savior presented in this passage that needs to be addressed. This dichotomy can and does exist in Christian thought if not in reality, and ultimately one must triumph over the other, in other words is God first savior or judge? The argument concludes that through the act of giving Jesus as recompense for our sins God desires to be savior to all first, but cannot deny His justice from those who do not accept what God has done for them through Jesus. There is much more material to discuss on this dichotomy between Savior and Judge, but at least the basic concept is explained here. Keep seeking answers.