Read: Matthew 18:21-22
Forgiveness is tough—especially when the wounds are deep. Sometimes we hold on to unforgiveness because the harm we experienced wasn’t minor. It was real. It was life-altering. It demands justice. In those moments, forgiveness can feel like a betrayal of ourselves, as if we’re letting the person who hurt us off the hook. How can we forgive when the offense seems too great to ignore?
Here’s the truth we often miss: forgiveness doesn’t erase justice. God didn’t “let us off the hook” for our sins. Instead, He demanded justice and paid the penalty in full. Forgiveness is costly, and God bore that cost Himself in the most brutal way—through the cross. It’s this profound act of mercy and justice combined that allows us to forgive others. When we forgive, we’re not excusing the offense or pretending it didn’t happen. We’re releasing the debt to the One who has already settled the account.
Peter’s question to Jesus is one we’ve all asked: How many times do I have to forgive someone? Surely there’s a limit. But Jesus turns the idea of “keeping score” on its head with His answer—seventy-seven times. He calls us to forgive not as a one-time act, but as a posture of the heart. Forgiveness isn’t easy, but it frees us from the prison of bitterness and allows us to trust God to bring true justice.
When we forgive, we reflect the heart of Christ, who forgave us so completely and unreservedly. Forgiveness is not about letting the offender get away with it—it’s about walking in the freedom Christ purchased for us and trusting Him to make all things right.
Reflection Questions:
- Is there someone you need to forgive, even if they haven’t apologized?
- How does God’s forgiveness toward you shape your willingness to forgive others?
- What would freedom from unforgiveness look like in your life?