The Equation!

Then Peter came up and asked Him, “Lord, how often am I to forgive my brother if he goes on wronging me?”  As many as seven times?”  Jesus replied, “I do not say seven times, I say seventy times seven.“  Matt. 18:21-22 NEB

What does Jesus’ answer mean? I’ve always wondered how Peter understood Jesus’ answer to forgiveness as found in Matthew 18:21-23. I know I don’t understand it even recognizing that the equation of the perfect number, seven, is multiplied by ten times the perfect number, 70, which equals 490. Are we to keep a tally of how many times we forgive someone and then stop forgiving when we reach 491? What if we live a long time?  What then? Are we to stop forgiving? I’ve been trying to find an answer to that question for a very long time, but I haven’t found anything that makes sense to me. 

However, recently, I was introduced to the concept of the Alphanumeric aspect of the Hebrew language. That simply means that each letter of the Hebrew alphabet has a number value. Using that as a code, perhaps we can decipher new or hidden meanings in the scripture.

I’ve been watching a program on tv entitled, “God’s Appointed Times.”  In it, Messianic Rabbi Jason Sobel is teaching the meaning of what he calls the Biblical holidays found in chapter 23 of the Book of Leviticus. As Christians, we know them as the Jewish holidays.   

Part of Rabbi Sobel’s explanation of Shabbat, the weekly worship service each Friday, was about “Bread.” He explains that the two loaves of bread on the table reflect back to the double portion of manna on Fridays during the Exodus. He says that Jesus equates bread to forgiveness and that every important thing that happened to Jesus happened on one of these biblical holidays.  

Where do the numerical values help us understand this. Each of these happenings has a numerical value. 1) Jesus is called “The Bread of Life” (490). 2) Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the house of bread, (490). 3) He was born in the Nativity (490). 4) He was perfect. The Hebrew word for perfect is Tamim (490). 5) He was the perfect sacrificial lamb on Good Friday (490). 6) He arose on First Fruits (490). 

Perhaps Jesus’ answer on forgiveness to Peter isn’t a definite number. Perhaps Jesus’ answer to forgiveness is Himself. Is it possible that Jesus is telling us to forgive as He Himself forgives us?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we praise You for all the ways you provide answers to our questions and we thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to set an example for us. His answers to our questions sound simple enough but provide difficult challenges for us on our journey of faith. We thank You, Jesus, for loving us and guiding us as we go. In Your name we pray, Amen. 

Judy Welch