“Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.’” — Matthew 18:22 (NKJV)
Peter thought offering seven chances was magnanimous—a noble cap on mercy. But Jesus shattered that ceiling, calling for unlimited, radical grace.
Puritan writer John Flavel warned that harboring bitterness tarnishes Christ’s reputation and destroys our peace. He asked pointedly: “How is Christ a lamb, when His followers are lions?” A retaliatory heart drives away the quiet presence of the Spirit.
In Jesus’ parable of the unmerciful servant, the unforgiving man was handed over “to the torturers” (Matthew 18:34, NKJV). Make no mistake: holding a grudge ultimately imprisons the person who refuses to let go. Resentment is a self-inflicted sentence that robs you of joy.
How do we break free? By looking to the cross. Paul urged us to be “forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32, NKJV).
Personal Application: Is bitterness holding you hostage today? Stop tallying offenses. Release that debt to the Lord, extend the same lavish grace you’ve received, and let Christ restore peace to your soul.