“How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee until seven times: but until seventy times seven” (Matt. 18:21, 2221Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:21‑22)).
How oft shall I pardon my brother? was asked.
Of Jesus, when here among men,
Is seven times often enough to forgive?
Or should I forgive him again?
And Jesus made answer, “I say unto thee”
That just seven times will not do;
But seven times seventy, answer his plea—
Forgive him as I forgave you.
O! list to the Lord’s loving voice from the cross,
When He hung there in agony too:
“O! Father, forgive them,” —such mercy and grace
“Forgive, they know not what they do.”
In the midst of their buffeting, scorning, and jeers,
Rejected, despised, and alone!
This marvelous love of our Saviour appears,
“Forgive them the wrong they have done.”
Such love and forgiveness unspeakable is,
It can never be measured or known;
And we marvel at this great example of His,
Where such love unto sinners was shown.
O! seven times seventy never would tell
The debt that my Lord forgave me;
When He rescued my soul from the portals of hell,
Bought my pardon on Calvary’s tree.
My sins which outnumbered the sands of the sea,
In His body, He willingly bore.
The vast debt is canceled—my conscience is free,
They’re remembered by Him, nevermore.
He freely forgave all—He’s blotted them out,
They are cast in the depths of the sea:
His Word has removed every fear, every doubt,
And peace, He has given to me.
If we who have tasted such limitless grace.
This spirit could show to another;
Remembering Jesus, who died in our place,
And willingly pardon our brother,
‘Twould glorify God in our walk here below,
‘Tis a thing He desires of us too,
To try in some measure this spirit to show—
“Forgive them, as Christ forgave you.”