How Many Times for Forgiveness?

Day 38 - A Year With God

Someone told me that God expects us to forgive someone when they lie to us; but we don't have to trust them again. Is that the truth of it, or were they just saying what they thought should be?

"So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."Luke 17:3-4

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Mathew 18: 21-22

So, we are to forgive how ever many times someone repents. It doesn't say not to trust them then, but to keep forgiving them if they keep repenting.

The definition of repent is to make a change for the better as a result of remorse or contrition for one's sins. By that definition, if someone repents and you forgive them; then they have to make a change for the better as a result of their remorse. So, they have to repent, feel remorse and make a change for the better.

It is not a genuine repentance if you feel no remorse, if you don't make a change for the better. They have to be sorry for their actions and make a positive change because of that after asking for your forgiveness.

Obviously it is better if we don't sin and if no one sins against us. But even so, if they truly repent you are to forgive. True repentance isn't someone committing a sin with the plan to say they are sorry later just to get away with it. They have to truly be sorry and turn away from the behavior.

Here is the difficult part. How can we know anyone else's heart? We can't. Do we know if they are truly repentant? Do we know how they really feel and what is motivating them? No. We have to believe the best, because that's what God told us to do. We are responsible for our actions. It is up to us to do what is right regardless of what others may be doing dishonestly.

Resources
Day 37 - Positive Thinking Or You Are What You Think

Bible Gateway - Luke Scripture

Bible Gateway - Matthew Scripture