Grow in Grace: Forgive Deeply
January 14, 2026
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Matthew 18:21–22
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
In our devotion yesterday we observed that when relationships become strained, when misunderstandings arise, or when someone disappoints us, the Bible through the Apostle Paul's teaching invites us to “bear with one another and forgive one another.” Grace embraces mercy over resentment, seeks understanding over assumption, and pursues reconciliation over withdrawal.
Grace stretches us, shapes us, and calls us beyond what feels natural. Growing in grace means allowing God to soften the places in us that have become rigid, guarded, or weary.It’s about allowing the Holy Spirit to nurture patience, compassion, and humility in the small, daily moments when my reactions show what’s truly in my heart.
One part of growing in grace is learning to forgive deeply. That is a big ask, isn't it? Offering forgiveness is hard.
In Matthew 18:21–22, Peter approaches Jesus with what he thinks is a generous question: “How many times should I forgive? Up to seven times?” In Peter’s world, forgiving someone three times was already a generous act. So when he proposes seven, he thinks he’s pushing forgiveness as far as it can go. To be honest, it does sound amazingly generous. Seven Times to the same person!
Jesus response to Peter must have been a real "brain buster" to Peter’s expectations. We need to notice something here, Jesus isn’t giving a mathematical formula; Jesus, rather is revealing the heart of God. He is teaching that forgiveness is not meant to be counted, or measured out sparingly. Forgiveness is meant to flow out of us, again and again, over and over, because that is how God forgives us. Jesus is showing that forgiveness is not a task we perform, it is an attitude, a posture we carry into daily living. As somone has put it, "it is not about keeping track of offenses; it is about keeping our hearts free from the slow poison of resentment." It’s about living with the same mercy that God constantly shows us.
To be forgiving in the way of Jesus, does not mean the hurt was small, but it does mean that God’s grace toward us is great. To forgive does not excuse what was wrong, but it does help us to release what is heavy. The message here is that with God's help, God's grace enables us to forgive not once, but continually. The outcome of this life attitude means we experience freedom over resentment, healing over hardness, and reconciliation over pay back.
Doesn't that sound like a wonderful pursuit for 2026?
One part of growing in grace is learning to forgive deeply. That is a big ask, isn't it? Offering forgiveness is hard.
In Matthew 18:21–22, Peter approaches Jesus with what he thinks is a generous question: “How many times should I forgive? Up to seven times?” In Peter’s world, forgiving someone three times was already a generous act. So when he proposes seven, he thinks he’s pushing forgiveness as far as it can go. To be honest, it does sound amazingly generous. Seven Times to the same person!
Jesus response to Peter must have been a real "brain buster" to Peter’s expectations. We need to notice something here, Jesus isn’t giving a mathematical formula; Jesus, rather is revealing the heart of God. He is teaching that forgiveness is not meant to be counted, or measured out sparingly. Forgiveness is meant to flow out of us, again and again, over and over, because that is how God forgives us. Jesus is showing that forgiveness is not a task we perform, it is an attitude, a posture we carry into daily living. As somone has put it, "it is not about keeping track of offenses; it is about keeping our hearts free from the slow poison of resentment." It’s about living with the same mercy that God constantly shows us.
To be forgiving in the way of Jesus, does not mean the hurt was small, but it does mean that God’s grace toward us is great. To forgive does not excuse what was wrong, but it does help us to release what is heavy. The message here is that with God's help, God's grace enables us to forgive not once, but continually. The outcome of this life attitude means we experience freedom over resentment, healing over hardness, and reconciliation over pay back.
Doesn't that sound like a wonderful pursuit for 2026?
God, help me grow in grace. God, help me learn to forgive deeply. God, help me walk in the way of Jesus. Amen
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