70 x 7

by Norman H. Patterson Jr.

 
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Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21+22
— Matthew 18:21+22

I always thought this passage taught that no matter how many times someone hurt me, I would have to keep forgiving for new offenses. 70x7 is a symbolic way of saying "as many times as it takes." Indeed, this is one application of the meaning.

However, I think there is another. It also means that we have to keep chipping away at the hurt that we received from the same person for the same offense for as many times as it takes to work it through and to let it go.

It doesn't mean we haven't forgiven. It acknowledges that there are layers to the hurt and each time we reach a new level of realization of the depth of how the offense affected us, we must forgive that same trespass again and again. Every time we relive the hurt or remember what they did against us or wrestle with it in the middle of the night, we must yet once again forgive 70x7.