Contents
Introduction
This Sunday Gospel (18:21–35) is a follow-up to that of last Sunday (Matt 18:15–20). The theme of conflict cannot be concluded without touching the theme of forgiveness too. According to Jesus, “If your brother or sister sins go and point out his/her fault, just between the two of you. If he/she listens to you, you have won him/her over. But if he/she will not listen, take one or two others from the community along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If the brother or sister in question still refuses to listen, tell it to the Church; and if he/she refuses to listen even to the Church, treat him/her as you would treat a pagan or a tax collector.” If the issue is resolved in the first, second or third attempt, the next thing to is for the victim to forgive the offender. What if after the last stage, the offender refuses to admit his or her fault? It means the person has not yet obtained forgiveness.
How many times?
“Then 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-seven times’” (Matt 18:21–22). After listening and reflecting on Jesus’ guidelines on how to resolve conflicts, in Matthew 18:21–35, Peter sought further clarification from Jesus. After replying to Peter’s question, Jesus went ahead and buttressed his response with a touching story. Peter inquired from Jesus about how many times he is supposed to forgive his brother or sister who offends him. Based on the biblical significance of the number 3 as completeness, Peter thought that after he might have forgiven his brother or sister three times, there should be no need to keep forgiving. But Jesus disagreed and extended the forgiveness to seventy times seven (cf. Gen 4:24 for similar expression by Abraham). Seventy times seven means indefinite, limitless. That means forgiveness does not and should not have limit. How about asking for forgiveness? Should it have limit? In their interactions with one another, Christians should not give preference to their former religious practices. Instead, they should apply the stipulations of their new religious orientation and especially, the criterion of the kingdom of God as presented in the Gospel teachings.
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