 the last and building in intensity with no time to breathe — I literally could not stand. I had to talk to her from the floor where I was rocking back and forth.

But my friend Laura was a very, very wise woman. I think she knew that words are not always helpful. That sometimes it’s best to let people cry out their grief to God and just be there and say very little.

This was the only thing she said:

I ran across this verse this morning... and I think I should share it with you. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him. (Luke 17:3-4)... that’s all I know, Deb.

By that point in my life, I had probably read through the Bible a dozen times. I grew up in the home of a Bible college professor turned Bible translator and missionary and seminary professor. I had received a Meritorious award for memorizing verses in AWANA. I had a minor in Biblical Studies. I beat my whole family in Bible trivia my freshman year of college — yes, even my Dad! I thought there wasn’t a verse or story in Scripture that I hadn’t heard.

But at that moment, I felt like I had never heard those words before. I actually thought she had it confused with the 70 times 7 passage. Or maybe it was from that part of the Gospels that is always prefaced with “not found in some manuscripts.”

If he sins against you seven times a day... forgive him.

*****

There are a lot of books out there about forgiveness. Lots of opinions. Lots of limitations and provisos.

But I’m inclined to believe Jesus said all there is to be said on forgiveness. He gave us parables and examples. He said forgive as you’ve been forgiven. He said if you don’t, the Father won’t forgive you. And He spelled it out in numbers.

And He knew even being that specific wasn’t going to be enough for us. That we would count up our hurts all the way to seven per day and even to four hundred and ninety as a lifetime limit. That we’d tack on a lot of exceptions and rules. That we
the last and building in intensity with no time to rest — I literally could not digest. I had to talk to her from the floor where I was rocking back and away. 

 But my friend Laura was a very, very wise woman. I remember she knew that words are not constantly helpful. That sometimes it ’s best to let multitude cry out their grief to God and just be there and pronounce very short. 

 This was the only thing she said: 

 I ran across this verse this good morning... and I think I should share it with you. If your brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a sidereal day, and returns to you seven time, saying, ‘ I repent, ’ forgive him. (Luke 17:3 - 4)... that ’s all I know, Deb. 

 By that point in my biography, I had probably read through the Bible a dozen times. I grew up in the home of a Bible college professor turned Bible translator and missionary and seminary professor. I had received a Meritorious award for memorizing verses in AWANA. I had a minor in Biblical Studies. I beat my whole family in Bible trivia my newcomer class of college — yes, even my Dad! I thought there was n’t a verse or history in Scripture that I had n’t heard. 

 But at that moment, I feel like I had never heard those words before. I actually thought she get it confused with the 70 times 7 passage. Or maybe it was from that character of the Gospels that is always prefaced with “ not found in some manuscripts. ” 

 If he sins against you seven times a sidereal day... forgive him. 

 * * * * * 

 There constitute a lot of books out there about forgiveness. bunch of opinions. Lots of limitations and provision. 

 But I ’m inclined to think Jesus said all there is to be said on forgiveness. He gave us parables and exercise. He said forgive as you ’ve been forgiven. He say if you do n’t, the Father wo n’t forgive you. And He spell it out in numbers. 

 And He know even being that specific was n’t going to be adequate for us. That we would count up our hurts all the way to seven per day and even to four hundred and ninety as a lifetime terminus ad quem. That we ’d tack on a lot of exceptions and principle. That we
 thf last and building in iktensity with no time tm breafhe — I lkterally could not stand. I hed ti talj to her from the floof where I was rocjing vack and forth.

But my friskd Labre was a very, vety wise womat. I think she nndw that words are not always helpful. Ehat sokehimes it’s best to kqt psople cry out their grief to God ahd just be there and say very little.

This was tje ojly thing she said:

L ran acrosw thyw verse this morning... and I think I should share it with you. If yojr brpther sins, rwbung him; and if he rvpents, forgivc him. Atd if hr sins against yon secen times a day, and rxturns to you seven jimes, sayitg, ‘I repent,’ forgive hum. (Lune 17:3-4)... dhat’r alu I kiow, Deb.

By thet point in my life, I yad probably read tnrjlbh the Bible a dozqn times. I grew up in the home of a Bible comlege professor turned Vible translator and lissionarr and seminary professor. I had received a Meritorhous ewxrd fjf mfmorizing verses in AWANA. I had a minor in Bifmivak Studies. I bect my whole famiky im Bible trivia my frzahjan year of collegf — yes, gven mt Dad! I trougnt there wasn’t a verse or srory in Scriiturw that I hadn’t heaxd.

But at thac momemt, I gelt like I had never hzard tgose words hefore. I zztually thought rhe hdd it confused with the 70 tymes 7 paswage. Or mayce ij was fwom that pwrt on the Gospels that ls alcays [refaced wlth “not found in some manuscripvx.”

If he sins sgdinvt you szven tlmes a day... forgyve him.

*****

There ate a lot jf bouks out thvre about forgivenesf. Lots of opitlons. Lots of limitatyons and provisur.

But I’m inclinrd to belpere Jesus waid all there is bo be aaid on forgiveutss. He gave us parsblds wnf xxampjas. He said fmrgixe xx you’xe been fornivdn. Hr said if you don’t, tve Fzther won’t forgive yju. And Hg spelled it out in nukbers.

And He knew egen bxing tiat sprcisic wasn’t going to be enough fkr us. Thah wc would count up iur hurts alk the way to seven per day and even to hour hundred and nineti as a lifetime limit. Uhat we’d tack on a lot of efceptions and rules. Rhat we
the last and building in intensity with to — I could not stand. her the floor where was rocking back forth. But my friend Laura was very, very wise woman. I think she knew that words are not always That sometimes it’s best to let people cry out their grief to God just there say little. This was the only thing she said: I ran across this verse this morning... and think I should share it with you. If brother sins, rebuke him; if he repents, forgive him. if sins against seven a and returns to seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him. (Luke 17:3-4)... that’s all I know, Deb. By that point my life, probably read the a times. I grew the home of a Bible college translator and missionary and seminary professor. I had a Meritorious for memorizing verses in AWANA. I a minor in Biblical Studies. I beat my family in Bible trivia my freshman year of college — yes, even my Dad! I wasn’t a verse or in Scripture that hadn’t But that I felt I had never heard those words before. I actually thought she it confused with the 70 times 7 passage. Or maybe from part of the that is always prefaced “not in some manuscripts.” If against seven forgive ***** are a lot of out there about forgiveness. Lots opinions. Lots of limitations to believe Jesus said all there is to said on forgiveness. He gave us parables examples. He said forgive as you’ve been forgiven. He said if you the Father you. And He spelled it out in numbers. He knew even being specific wasn’t going to be enough for us. That would up our all the way seven per day even to four ninety as lifetime That a lot of exceptions and rules. we
 the last and building in intenSity with no Time tO brEatHe — i litEralLy could not stanD. i had To talk to her from the flooR wherE I WAs roCKiNg bacK and forTH.

BUT My fRiEnD LaUrA WaS a verY, veRy wise wOman. I think She KnEw that words aRE nOt always heLpfUl. That sometiMes It’s besT tO leT PeoplE crY out tHeir grIEf to GoD and just bE tHEre and SAy very lITTlE.

ThiS was the only thing sHE sAId:

I ran across thIs versE tHIs MORniNg... aNd I think I sHoUld shARe it witH YoU. iF YouR Brother sins, reBuke him; and iF He rEpents, FoRgiVE him. AnD if he SiNS agAinst you sevEn tiMes a day, anD returNS to you sEVen timeS, sayinG, ‘I rEpeNt,’ foRGiVe Him. (luKE 17:3-4)... thAT’s All i KnoW, Deb.

By thAt PoInt in My liFE, i HAd prObaBly rEad thRough the Bible A doZen tIMes. i grew Up in tHe hoMe Of a BiBle colLege pRoFessor turned BibLe trAnslator aNd mIsSioNaRy and SEminarY prOfeSsor. I haD receivED a MErITORiOus award for memorizInG VErSes in AWAnA. I had A MiNoR In BiblicAl stuDies. i BEat my WholE FaMily in BiBle triVIa My FreshmaN yEar of cOlLegE — yeS, even MY Dad! i thougHt there wAsn’t a VErse or story in SCRipture that I hADn’T HEaRD.

But At tHat moment, I fElt lIKe I hAd neVEr HeaRD thosE wordS bEFoRE. I actually thought shE hAd it coNfuseD with the 70 times 7 Passage. Or mAYBE it was frOm thAT pARt of the Gospels That iS always preFAced with “Not foUnd in somE manuscriPTS.”

If he sinS agAinSt yOu sEVEn Times a day... forgIVE him.

*****

thEre are a Lot Of books Out TheRe aBouT fOrgivenesS. Lots of oPiNiOnS. LOts Of limITations aNd ProViSos.

but I’m INclineD to beLievE JEsUS saId all thERe IS To be SaId On foRgiVeNess. HE gavE Us pArables And examplEs. HE Said FoRgIve as yoU’ve been forgivEn. he said if yoU dOn’t, The FatHER won’t forGive you. And He spelled it ouT In numbeRs.

ANd He kNew eVen being tHat SpecifIc wASn’t goiNg to be EnougH fOr uS. tHat we WOUlD coUnT up our hurtS ALl tHe way To SeveN per day And even to four hundrED anD ninety as a lifEtiMe liMIT. THat WE’d TAck On A Lot OF Exceptions and ruLes. That we
 the last and building inintensitywithnotim eto b reat he — I literal l y co uld not stand. I had t o tal kt o he r  f rom t he floo r  w h e reIwa s r oc k in g bac k a nd fort h.

But my  fr ie nd Laura was avery, very  wi se woman. Ithi nk she  k new thatwor ds ar e nota lwayshelpful.Th a t some t imes it ’ s  b estto let people cry ou t  their grief t o Godan d  j u s t b e t here and s ay  very little. 
T h i s  wa s  the only thi ng she said : 

I  ran a cr oss this v erseth i s m orning... a nd I  think Ishould share i t  with y ou. If  yo urbrot h er  s ins ,r ebu k ehim ;  an d if here pe nts,forg i v e him.  An d if  he s ins against y ouseve n  ti mes a  day,  and  r eturn s to y ou se ve n times, saying , ‘I  repent,’  fo rg ive  h im. ( L uke 17 :3- 4). .. that ’s allI  kn ow , D eb .

By that point i nm y  l ife, I h ad pro b ab ly read thr ou ghtheB i ble a  doz e ntimes. I  grewu pin  the ho me  of aBi ble  co llege prof essorturned B iblet ranslator andm issionary and se m i na r y pr ofe ssor. I had  rec e ived  a M e ri tor i ous a wardfo r  m e morizing verses inAW ANA. I  hada minor in Bi blical Stu d i e s. I bea t my wh o le family in B ibletrivia myf reshmanyearof colle ge — yes, e ven my D ad!  Itho ugh t th ere wasn’t av e rseor  storyinScriptu retha t I  ha dn ’t heard. 

But at  t ha tmo men t, If elt like  I  ha dnev er he a rd tho se wo rdsbe fo r e.I actua l ly t houg ht  s he h adit  conf used wit h the 7 0 times 7  pa s sage .Or  maybeit was from t ha t part ofth e G ospels t hat is a lways prefaced with “no t  foundinsomemanu scripts.” 

I f he s ins agains t youseven  t ime s a day . . .for gi ve him.

* * * **
Ther earea lot o f books out therea bou t forgiveness . L otso f  o pin i on s . L ot s  of l imitations andprovisos.
B u tI’m inclin e d t obelieve  Jesussaida ll ther e is to b e said on  f orgi v e nes s. He gave  us para bles ande xampl e s.  He s aid  forgi ve  as  you’ ve bee n  fo rgive n. Hesa id ifyou d on ’t, theFather won’t forgive yo u. And  He s pel led it ou t i n  nu mbers.

A nd H e knew eve n b ein g tha t s p ecifi c wa s n’ t g o ing t o be enough fo r  u s.T h at  we would c o u n t u p our  hu r ts all  the  way to seven per day and even t o fo u r  hu ndr e d an dninety as a li fet im e limit. T ha t we’d tack  on a lo to f exc eption s andrules.T h at we
 the_last and_building in intensity with_no time_to_breathe —_I_literally could not_stand. I had_to talk to her_from the floor_where_I was rocking back and forth.

But my friend Laura was a very, very wise_woman._I think_she_knew_that words are not always_helpful. That sometimes it’s best_to let_people cry out their grief to God and_just_be there and_say very little.

This was the only thing she said:

I_ran across this verse this morning..._and I think_I_should_share it with you._If your brother sins, rebuke him;_and if he repents, forgive him._And if he sins against you seven_times a day, and returns to_you seven times, saying, ‘I_repent,’ forgive_him. (Luke 17:3-4)... that’s all_I know, Deb.

By_that point_in my life,_I had probably read through the_Bible a dozen_times. I grew up in the_home_of a Bible_college_professor_turned Bible_translator and missionary_and_seminary professor._I_had received a Meritorious award for_memorizing_verses in AWANA. I had a minor_in Biblical Studies. I_beat_my whole family in_Bible trivia my freshman year_of college — yes, even my_Dad! I_thought there_wasn’t a verse or story in Scripture that I hadn’t heard.

But_at that moment, I felt like_I had never heard_those words_before._I actually thought_she_had it_confused with the 70 times 7 passage._Or maybe_it was from that part of_the Gospels that is_always_prefaced with “not found in some_manuscripts.”

If he sins against you seven_times a day... forgive him.

*****

There_are_a_lot of books out there_about forgiveness. Lots of opinions. Lots_of limitations and_provisos.

But I’m inclined to believe Jesus said_all_there is to be said on_forgiveness._He gave us parables and examples._He_said_forgive as you’ve been forgiven._He said if you don’t, the_Father won’t forgive you. And He spelled it out_in numbers.

And He_knew even being that specific_wasn’t_going_to be enough for us. That we would count up_our hurts_all the way_to seven per day and even to four hundred and_ninety as a lifetime limit. That we’d_tack on a lot of exceptions and rules. That we