Matthew 18:21-22 “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked him, "Lord, how often do I have to forgive a believer who wrongs me? Seven times?" Jesus answered him, "I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy times seven.”
Jesus had just given the procedure for how to deal with a believer who sins against another believer. When He finished with His instructions, Peter asked "Lord, how often do I have to forgive a believer who wrongs me? Seven times?" Jesus answered by saying "I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy times seven.” I personally don't believe Jesus was meaning for we are to keep count of how often someone sins against them, but was trying to get across the idea that we are to always forgive. Even if someone wanted to believe Jesus was giving us a number to keep track of, most people would have a hard time finding 490 sins done against them by one person, let alone one person who repented and asked for forgiveness 490 times. Jesus is saying we need to always be ready and willing to forgive. A person can do a lot of harm in not forgiving someone who is sorry for their actions. Being unwilling to forgive can become a stumbling block to the person seeking forgiveness. In Luke we find Jesus warning to not let our actions cause a weaker believer to fall into sin.
“Jesus told his disciples, "Situations that cause people to lose their faith are certain to arise. But how horrible it will be for the person who causes someone to lose his faith! It would be best for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large stone hung around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to lose his faith. So watch yourselves! "If a believer sins, correct him. If he changes the way he thinks and acts, forgive him. Even if he wrongs you seven times in one day and comes back to you seven times and says that he is sorry, forgive him." Luke 17:1-4
One way to easily discourage someone is to refuse to forgive someone when they have apologized and asked to be forgiven. Jesus said, “So watch yourselves!” and then says that even if the person wrongs you seven times in one day and comes back seven time asking for forgiveness you are to forgive them. We can't hold a grudge or lose patience with them. It's better to recognize the person is struggling in this area, where they keep doing wrong, and that they are aware of their actions and are trying to right their wrongs. They're still learning and growing as we all are in different areas of life. Just as we want forgiveness for our weaknesses we should offer that same forgiveness to someone else.
This is important when a church has had to discipline a member and the member repents and asks for forgiveness. The Apostle Paul gave us instructions for a situation such as this.
“This punishment by the majority is enough for such a one; so that, on the contrary, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overwhelming sorrow.” 2 Corinthians 2:6-7
It is important to forgive the repentant person and to be ready to comfort them. When a person, with a repentant heart, sees the wrong they have done and how it affected others, they feel badly and unworthy of acceptance. The natural instinct is to look down on the person, tell them they are unworthy, and make a show of mercifulness and tolerance in our forgiveness. An approach like that can drive the person to despair and to eventually give up on themselves. The people in the church need to be accepting and loving towards the repentant believer. Should that believer stumble again, the members are to be ready to forgive again. With prayer and patience the person may be able to overcome their weakness.
“bearing with one another and forgiving yourselves, if anyone has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also you should forgive.” Colossians 3:13