Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!”
“Seventy times seven” is meant to signify forever! An infinite number of times.
Forgiveness does not mean we approve of evil done by another. It is our ability to live free of evil thinking.
Another person’s sin does not need to become our grudge. We can choose to love rather than hate.
Forgiveness is for our benefit. It keeps thought free of hate and anger so that we can experience the best Life has to offer.
Carrying around resentments and grudges is not an enjoyable way to live. It’s quite miserable. Avoid suffering by learning how to forgive—quickly! Seventy times seven. You’ll be much happier, and healthier too.
Thank you for this message. My Mom taught me well not to hate anyone. Period! I was complaining to her about my elementary school teacher. But I accepted Mom’s rule and it has saved me from indulging in irritated thinking about others over my lifetime. Forgiveness is a priceless quality to practice always.
Thank you. Very wise advise.. Important not to allow ourselves to suffer for the sins of others. leave others to God. They are his children. He will enlighten them to love. its not our job.
let’s us provoke unto goods works as this weeks lessonclearly states.
love to all
Bravo Anne!
Its not our business to enlighten them, to preach them, to whatever…
My resentment of another makes a reality of sin. My not reacting makes sin an unreality.. For me it’s like clearing the air and we both can breath..
Wow!
Thank you!
Thank you, John!
Thank you, Evan!
Let the Spirit overflow night and day to all
Very inspiring advice, Evan. Thank yo so much for sharing it. Forgiving takes frequent alertness to the aggressive suggestions of mortal mind that would attempt to rehash old “abuses” and cause us to ruminate, filling our thought with bitterness when it should be filled with love.
“Time to clear out resentment” by Heidi Kleinsmith Salter, from the October 28, 2019 issue of The Christian Science Sentinel:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/2k9gkaicorc?s=copylink
Thank you, J, for this excellent article. It is a keeper and a good reminder of how we always need to watch our thought.
Thank you, Evan, for your thoughts, I especially liked “Another person’s sin does not need to become our grudge. We can choose to love rather than hate.” Here again we do have a choice as to what we allow to stay in and to affect our thinking.
These comments uplift me and enlighten me along with the article. Thanks Evan and each commenter!
it never occurred to me before that this is about not letting yourself be pushed around by other people’s thinking or doing — remaining spiritually independent. thanks!
Thank you all…what a great reminder and wonderful article too.
Thank you for this reminder of living grudge free and having patience with
ourselves to forgive others as well as ourselves. Sometimes it is not easy to
do this, especially when we think we have been wrongly treated. But until we
truly forgive any and all grudges and living free from evil thinking, we continue
to learn and grow in the love of God’s guidance. Rhondda .. your mentioning
your elementary school teacher … reminds me of a teacher who at the time I
considered – “mean” in one grade and then I had her again another year. Also,
after many years of having patience in my learning of forgiveness with a person,
a healing of seeing this person is no longer in my life and the freeing of any
resentments is a blessing that I am very grateful.
Learning this lesson frees my thinking, and I quote my MOM, “only look for the good”. She raised 5 children and we all learned that lesson from listening to God who is good. Passing that blessing on to my children daily. Thank you all for your contributions.