According to my study bible, the forgiveness of sins, not seven, but seventy-seven times, is an echo of Genesis 4:24. The Genesis passage refers to the ancestor Lamech’s honor being avenged not seven times, but “seventy-seven fold”, a reference the disciples would pick up right away. In this new order, Jesus tells them, forgiveness takes the place of revenge as the single-most important way to uphold honor in Christian community.
Lord, help us to remember that forgiveness, though rarely easy, is an important step on the path to building healthy and authentic community.
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