Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,  just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Forgiveness is a precursor to second chances. Eighty-year-old municipal judge, Frank Caprio, has hundreds of millions of views of his verdicts on YouTube. But it’s not his harsh words to criminals that attract audiences, it’s the way he reveals his compassionate heart. With every verdict, Judge Caprio attempts to see the person behind the crime.

In Matthew 18:21-35, Peter asks Jesus a question about how many we need to forgive someone.  It’s interesting that this question comes right after Jesus’ teaching on church discipline. Peter then asked what to do regarding lesser offenses that require forgiveness. As was typical for Peter, he asked a question in a way that implied he already knew the answer (v. 21). Typically, Jewish rabbis taught people that they should forgive others three times. Perhaps trying to impress Jesus, Peter suggested forgiveness ought to be given seven times, the perfect number. Jesus’ response of “seventy times seven times” indicated there ought to be no restrictions on the number of times we forgive (v. 22).

Jesus followed with a parable highlighting the generous forgiveness of the king, but it also stretched the concept for those who have been forgiven  alot. Even though the servant was forgiven by his master-king for an extraordinary amount,(comparable to millions of dollars), he could not extend forgiveness to his fellow servant who owed him a few dollars. Though the servant had been given a second chance, when he had the power to give someone else a second chance, he refused.

I think it’s hard for us to realize how much we have been forgiven unless we forgive those who we feel have failed us. Grasping how much we have sinned against God, and His forgiveness toward us, challenges us to give others a second chance, too. When we are unable to forgive, we are not fully grasping the non-restrictive nature of God’s forgiveness.

God’s Word here, may be difficult for us to hear and to act upon sometimes. The question we need to ask ourselves is: Whom do you need to forgive? While this person may never come to you asking for forgiveness, that does not mean you cannot extend it to them and forgive them anyway.  Allow God to work in the heart of the other.