Biblical Answer

The Bible teaches us that forgiveness is a process, not an event. It is a choice we make, and it requires us to continually relinquish our bitterness and repent of our anger. In Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother who sinned against him, and Jesus responds by saying, "Seventy-seven times" (or "seventy times seven" in some translations). This means that we should forgive others not just seven times, but over and over again, without limit. This is a difficult task, but it is one that we must strive to do if we want to live a life that is pleasing to God.

Forgiveness is not about justifying the other person's actions or excusing their behavior. It is about trusting that God is the God of justice and that He will ultimately deal with the wrongs that have been committed against us. When we forgive others, we are not saying that what they did was okay, but rather that we are choosing to release them from our anger and resentment. As the Bible says in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." This verse reminds us that God is a God of forgiveness and that He desires for us to forgive others as well.

So how many times should we forgive someone? The answer is, without limit. We should forgive others over and over again, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times. Forgiveness is a process, not an event, and it requires us to continually choose to release our anger and resentment. When we forgive others, we are not excusing their behavior, but rather trusting that God is the God of justice and that He will ultimately deal with the wrongs that have been committed against us. May we strive to live a life of forgiveness, trusting in God's power and wisdom to guide us in this difficult but essential task.