Keeping Score: Forgiveness

This series challenges us to stop keeping a tally of who owes us, what we think God owes us, and what we deserve. Instead, it invites us to choose to lose count: to lose count of offenses against us and forgive as Christ called us to; to lose count of what our “right hand” has given, and to freely hold up open hands that gladly give and receive; to lose count of our righteousness and acts of right living, to freely walk in the sanctifying grace of Christ; and to lose count of our failures and rest secure in God’s grace and sovereignty.

In the film Calvary, an Irish priest named Father James is told that he will be

murdered in seven days during confession—by the unknown person giving the

confession! Throughout the movie, Father James battles his desires to hate

those in his church, to flee for his life, and to give in to despair. And yet, in the

end he decides to stay and face this person who has threatened his life—to offer

grace and love. In a conversation with his daughter before this encounter, he

says, “I think there's too much talk about sins and not enough about virtues.” His

daughter replies, “What would be your number one?” He answers, “I think

forgiveness has been highly underrated” (directed by John Michael McDonagh,

[Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2014]). While Christians acknowledge the forgiveness

of sins through the cross, the extension of grace and forgiveness to others in

community is not often granted. In this scriptural passage, we understand the

gravity of God’s forgiveness toward believers and the importance of forgiving

others in order to fully live in God’s grace.

Matthew 18:21–35 ESV

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Within ancient Jewish contexts, extending forgiveness three times was sufficient to show a gracious spirit

Job 33:29–30 ESV

“Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.

Thus, when Peter comes to Jesus with the number seven, he is being very generous, at least from a perspective (v. 21). The number seven here does not seem to be arbitrary, either. Any number of examples in scripture could come to mind, but I will point to the usage of seven as a number of completeness, generally associated with something divine. But Christ effectively takes off all limitations on forgiveness—we are to forgive not seven times, “but seventy-seven times” (v. 22).

Now, does that mean that Christians should stop forgiving someone after they have sinned against you exactly seventy-seven times? Certainly not. Jesus is using hyperbole to demonstrate that forgiveness has no limits.

When encountering this parable in a modern context, the amount of money changing hands may be hard to discern—ten thousand talents may not sound like a particularly large debt (v. 24). Yet in its ancient context, this amount is almost unfathomable: “The talent was the highest unit of currency, and ten thousand the highest Greek numeral—‘a billion pounds (or dollars!)’ would convey the impression.”

When used as a measure of money, it refers to a talent-weight of gold or of silver. The gold talent is reported as weighing roughly the same as a person, and so perhaps 50 kg (>110 lb avoirdupois). Some authorities say that the talent typically weighed about 33 kg (>72 lb) varying from 20 to 40 kg. In June, 2018, the international price of gold was about US $41,155.69 per kilogram. One gram costs about $38. At this price, a talent (33 kg) would be worth about $1,400,116.57. So 10,000 talents would be $14,001,165,700

Further, the debt owed to the servant—a hundred denarii—is “one six-hundred-thousandth of the first”. Or in other words approximately $23,338

In other words, the forgiveness of the king is incredible, and the pettiness of the servant is disgraceful. It’s no wonder that the king was enraged when he heard of the servant’s extortion (vv. 30–34).

There may be some discomfort with the notion of the Father’s judgment of Christians who do not forgive others (v. 35). Doesn’t God forgive, no matter the offense? Yes, he does forgive—but in his forgiveness, he calls his followers to the same. And this is not in any sense a secondary calling. As the Father has let go of the massive offense that we have committed against him in our sin, so we are called to let go of the offenses committed against us. In other words, our forgiveness of others is rooted in God’s grace and mercy (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13).

Ephesians 4:32 ESV

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Colossians 3:13 ESV

bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Forgiveness is not only a biblical imperative but also a physical one—to hold on to a long-term grudge has been linked to severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Further, the “act of forgiveness can reap huge rewards for your health, lowering the risk of heart attack; improving cholesterol levels and sleep; and reducing pain, blood pressure, and levels of anxiety, depression and stress” (“Forgiveness: Your Health Depends on It,” Johns Hopkins Medicine, accessed February 4, 2022, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and prevention/forgiveness-your-health-depends-on-it). If forgiveness is tied to physical health, surely it has a large impact on our spiritual health. To let go of offenses is pivotal for a healthy body and spirit.

Because forgiveness is central to the Christian faith, we must “lose count” of the offenses against us—to forgive “seventy-seven times.” This means actively letting go of grudges and offenses that we are holding on to. Spend time this week praying for the ability to forgive, and if it is safe to do so, reach out to a person against whom you’ve been holding a grudge. Though their wrong may seem insurmountable, remember the insurmountable debt that Christ paid for you on the cross. To lose count of offenses is not optional; it’s a gospel imperative.