17th Sunday after Pentecost

Christ’s forgiveness knows no limits

Jesus offers us a warning and a promise in our text for today. First, it is gravely serious to lead

another person into sin. In a world where we quickly absolve ourselves of any and every

wrongdoing, we often fail to see the profound impact our own actions have upon our

neighbor. Jesus is clear: it would be better for us to drown in the sea than to cause another

Christian to sin.

But on the flip side, the life of the disciple is not one with our sins hung like an albatross

around our necks. Jesus leads us in the way of profound mercy: when someone sins against

us, seven lies, seven thefts, seven punches, seven angry words, we forgive seven times. Our

Lord sets no upper limits on His forgiveness, and so neither do we.