Matthew 18:21-22 (King James Version)

²¹ Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

²² Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Maybe you came across this verse in your bible study just now, and your mind immediately went, “Noooo!”

You remember all those times a particular someone mistreated you.

You remember how they showed no remorse.

How they eventually hurt you the same exact way again, even after they’ve apologised for it.

You know they will do it again.

And now that you’re reading about seventy times seven, you are highly tempted to do one thing:

Count down from 490.

Today, I would like to provide you with further insight on this topic of endless forgiveness that might help set some ease into your mind.

Matthew 7:6 (King James Version)

⁶ Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Have you ever come across a piece of news that went like this:

A man murdered somebody’s daughter and went to jail.

After he came out, the mother decided to forgive him and welcomed him into her home.

Despite him showing her repeatedly that he was unworthy, she forgave him endlessly.

Until the day he finally killed her too.

Remember something like that in the news? I don’t know the specific case, but I’ve heard plenty like it.

Yes, we are commanded by Jesus to forgive without count.

But it does not mean we forsake wisdom in that pursuit.

If someone has clearly repeatedly burned the bridge with you, then that calls for some change in the way you handle the person that is not just blind forgiveness.

For example, you have a friend from church whom you have caught spreading lies about you.

You tell that person to stop, and she promises to stop. But she fails to keep her promise.

Wisdom says that while you do not habour hatred in your heart for her, you shouldn’t also “throw your pearls before swine” and continue to confide into her about important secrets of your life.

It takes wisdom to know that you can forgive, and yet choose to keep yourself from further harm.

If you know a person has a habit of hurting you, then it’s completely fine to take measures to keep yourself from their company.

The command is that you do not nurture hatred for that person, not that you subject yourself at that person’s mercy forever.

I hope this helps.

God bless you.