Jesus often taught by Q&A.

Being a good learner, Peter makes the most of this. He’s always asking questions. Some very important lessons and parables of Jesus would be missing from the Bible were it not for Peter’s inquisitiveness.

His questions are not academic. They are as practical and existential as Søren Kierkegaard. For example, How often shall I forgive my brother?

The relational issues addressed by Jesus in Matthew 18 are as real today as they were back then. Envy and anger. Ill-will and contempt. Comparing and competing. Fault-finding and finger-pointing. Unkind words in unguarded moments. Invasion of personal space. Protection of ministry turf. Giving and taking offence over little things.

The disciples of Jesus were prone to quarrel. Homeless and jobless, they travelled and lived together in close quarters. They argued about which of them was the greatest. They vied for privilege and position in the coming Kingdom (Matthew 18:1, 20:21; Mark 9:34, 10:37).

Who knows? Peter and Judas may have even quarrelled over the budget. So Peter wants to know: How often shall I forgive my brother? Seven times?

The rabbis suggested three times. But Peter, who’s just getting the hang of Jesus’ teaching, increases the quota to seven, the number of perfection. Good try. But Jesus wasn’t impressed: I do not say to you seven times, but 77 times. Or 7 x 70 in some translations.

Jesus’ answer dismisses all petty notions about people taking advantage of us and walking all over us. Nor does he mean that we can stop forgiving after counting off 77 or 490 times.

Love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5). If you count and calculate, you haven’t forgiven. It’s not about quantity. Jesus expects a certain quality of forgiveness from us that is radical, infinite, divine. Forgive as God has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).

Peter will soon need this divine forgiveness, when he denies Jesus three times. And at the end of his journey, he will need to extend unconditional forgiveness to those who crucify him. Will you also forgive? And keep on forgiving?

PrayerWatch

Community is not possible without the willingness to forgive one another 77 times. Forgiveness is the cement of community life. Forgiveness holds us together through good and bad times, and it allows us to grow in mutual love (Henri Nouwen).

• Wake up! Satan is all out to destroy the Jesus community from within – one unforgiving relationship at a time. Heed this warning from a city watchman: I was praying for senior church leaders. God had given me 61 names. I was led to use Isaiah 61 as a standard script to bless each one.
   
  As I came to the 11th name, I heard myself praying something radically different for this man. It was all about relational conflicts and wounds. Then in a vision, I saw the man in a barren landscape. He was covered with festering wounds from head to toe. I spotted two vultures circling the sky above him.
   
  I immediately understood what the Lord was saying. Vultures, of course, feed on dead flesh. They were waiting for the right moment to swoop down for the feast. The Lord said: Forgive. Heal the wounds of relational conflict – or else be devoured!
   
  Dear Shepherds of Singapore, Satan’s chief tactic is to incite anger, wreck relationships, breed unforgiveness, split the Church, destroy community, and thus, diminish our witness.
   
  Submit to Jesus. Obey His call to forgive radically and infinitely. Overthrow Satan’s evil ploy by choosing to forgive as Christ has forgiven you. Resist the temptation to feed on malicious words and deeds. Move on – for your own good, for the sake of the Church, for God’s glory!

• The Celebration of Hope rallies have ended; but the glorious work has only just begun (Bishop Rennis Ponniah). Relational evangelism continues every day in every sphere across Singapore. But have we, through wrong attitudes and actions, spoiled our witness and strained our relationships with pre-believing family, friends, and neighbours?
   
  Where there are old hurts or new conflicts, we all need to forgive and be forgiven every day. Honour Jesus. Be His ally. Make the first move. End the cold war. Thaw the ice. Bring down the walls. Rebuild the bridges.
   
  Look again at your bleeding Messiah and the example He set: Forgive them for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34). Let your forgiveness be so real, so radical, so refreshing, that the unsaved around you might be deeply moved to follow Jesus. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9).
   
• The Singapore Kindness Movement launched in 1997 urges everyone to practise courtesy, kindness, and consideration. May the Church lead the way with grace towards all – regardless of race, language, or religion.
   
  Be a good neighbour. Good neighbourliness is next to godliness. Practise the Golden Rule: Do to others as you would have others do to you (Good Neighbour Day 2019).

Read the devotional from Day 15, July 15: Uncreated Light here.