Jesus said to forgive someone 490 times!

“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!” (Matt.18:21-22 NLT)

In the touchy-feely world we live in, many find it hard, even impossible, to forgive those who have done something hurtful, sinful, or negative towards them. They don’t “feel” forgiveness and are therefore led by their emotions. This is especially hard for repeat offenders, and many of those are in hard places to ignore, like your family or your place of work. But forgiveness is a command, not a suggestion. And Jesus said you must repeatedly forgive others, period, no matter how many times they offend or how big it is. So, how do you do it? You choose to forgive others despite how you feel. Forgiveness must not be led by feelings but must be a choice based upon God’s command to do so. When you choose to forgive someone, you may not immediately feel better, but it is the right thing to do, and God will help you with it and will bless you for it. If you do not forgive, profound consequences will occur; you will become bitter and develop other serious personal and relational problems. The following are some scriptures on the subject. 

Forgive one another

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32 ESV)

Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you

“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.” (Col. 3:13 ESV)

“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25 ESV)

He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 ESV)

A warning about forgiveness

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matt. 6:14-15 ESV)