We are all familiar with Peter’s question of how often he should forgive his brother and Christ’s response, “not seven times, but seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22). One question that naturally arises, not only from the disciples but also to the modern ear, is how is this possible? How can I truly forgive someone that many times?
The answer may be in that forgiveness is first and foremost a decision of the will. It is true that forgiveness will be an act of the whole person (our thoughts, desires, and volition), but it may be helpful for us to start with our will. The choice that we make as persons who have been wronged and slighted comes from deep convictions about our own sinfulness, about God’s mercy and grace toward us, and a belief that we should want to extend that mercy to as many as we can (see the following metaphor of what the Kingdom is like after Christ’s correction of Peter). But as I said, forgiveness is, first and foremost, an act of the will and it involves the person granting forgiveness making four commitments to the person seeking forgiveness (even when some or all our emotions may
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