How many times should we forgive people?

[Dave Slayer]

Sometimes people do us wrong, how many times should we forgive people? What is Biblical?

 

[azlan88]

A man once asked Jesus, "How many times should I forgive my brother? Seven times?" Jesus answered, "Not seven times, but seventy times seven!" So if Jesus will forgive us our sins every time, why shouldn't we feeble humans forgive our siblings every time also?

 

[Paidion]

However, we should bear in mind that true forgiveness is conditional upon repentance ( a change of mind and heart). God doesn't forgive us unless we repent!

Take heed to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him; and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him. Luke 17:3,4 RSV

Of course, if you think forgiving a person refers to letting go of your ill feelings toward him, you can do that whether he repents or not. Indeed, you should do that whether he repents or not. But that's not what forgiveness is. True forgiveness is a restoration of a relationship with another person, based on that person's repentance.

 

[Guest]

And how can you know if he repents?