Seventy Times Seven Is Not a Math Problem

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I have had occasion to think about forgiveness recently. I think we all have occasion, on most days, but I also think that most of us choose not to think about it.

It is much easier to hold a grudge.

I have plenty of my own history with grudges. I've held grudges for a decade or more: grudges against family, against friends that I've lost, even against God. I held on to all the anger, the bitterness, the blame, the hurt.

It made me powerless.

"Teacher," one of the disciples asked. "How many times should I forgive my brother who has sinned against me? Seven times?"

"Seventy times seven," Jesus said.

Anyone who can do math knows that, literally taken, Jesus told His disciples to forgive someone 490 times. But, it's not really a math problem.

I like to think that Jesus knew a little something about the nature of forgiveness, about the power of forgiveness. I like to think that He knew that people who see forgiveness as a mathematical exercise, as a legal exercise, will never know that power.

Those people will always be able to give up on someone because, "I've done my part."

"I've done enough."

"How much more can be expected of me?"

Seventy times seven is a repeating number.

It's a never-ending problem.

It's a lifestyle.

It's a daily choice.

Anger and bitterness take power away from the offended, and put the power into the hands of the offender.

Forgiveness surrenders the power to the Almighty.

Forgiveness acknowledges that we are the offender as often as we are the offended.

You cannot claim to love God and hate your brother.

You cannot claim to be forgiven, if you are not willing to forgive.

And I think that Jesus knew that when a person lives a life of forgiveness, they cannot stop forgiving.

Anger is about power, but forgiveness is about freedom.


Forgive the distant family member.

Forgive the unfaithful friend.

Forgive the ex-spouse or ex-partner.

Forgive the tyrannical employer.

Forgive the murderer.

The abuser.

The dictator.

The sex fiend.

The drug dealer.

The drug addict.

The alcoholic.

The cheat.

The fraud.

The terrorist.

Forgive. 

Forget.

Let go.

Be free.


My love to you, wherever you are,

Michael Brian Woywood