Luke 17:4

And since mercy ought to exceed the offense, therefore he adds: And if he sins against you seven times in a day, through manifold injury. Bede: "Universality is customarily designated by the number seven," on account of which it is also said in Proverbs chapter …

And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns back to you, saying: I repent, forgive him. The number seven does not set a limit for granting forgiveness, but either commands that all sins should be …

But we must mark, that He does not bid us forgive every one who sins, but him only who repents of his sins. For by taking this course we may avoid offences, hurting no one, correcting the sinner with a righteous zeal, extending the bowels of mercy to the penitent. By using the number seven He assigns no bound to the giving of pardon, but commands us either to forgive all sins, or always to forgive the penitent. For by seven the whole of any thing or time is frequently represented.

Then, as if someone were to say: let it be so, Lord! You have distinguished this well; but what is to be done with the one who has been forgiven many times and offends again? The Lord says: if he repents again, forgive him. And …

If he sin against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day return, saying, I repent - That is, if he give sufficient proof that he does really repent, after having sinned ever so often, receive him just as if he had never sinned against thee. But this forgiveness is due only to real penitents.

And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day,....

That we have all need to get our faith strengthened, because, as that grace grows, all other graces grow. The more firmly we believe the doctrine of Christ, and the more confidently we rely upon the grace of Christ, the better it will be with us every way.

seven times--not a lower measure of the forgiving spirit than the "seventy times seven" enjoined on Peter, which was occasioned by his asking if he was to stop at seven times. "No," is the virtual answer, "though it come to seventy times that number, if only he ask forgiveness in sincerity."

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We are taught for one thing in these verses — the great sinfulness of putting stumbling-blocks in the way of other men's souls. The Lord Jesus says, "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come — but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck — than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin!" When do men cause others to sin?

We are taught for one thing in these verses — the great sinfulness of putting stumbling-blocks in the way of other men's souls. The Lord Jesus says, "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come — but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck — than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin!" When do men cause others to sin? They do it, beyond doubt, whenever they persecute believers, or endeavor to deter them from serving Christ. But this, unhappily, is not all. Professing Christians do it whenever they bring discredit on their religion by inconsistencies of temperament, of word, or of deed. We do it whenever we make our Christianity unlovely in the eyes of the world — by conduct inconsistent with our profession. The world may not understand the doctrines and principles of believers — but they are very keen-sighted about their practice . The sin against which our Lord warns us, was the sin of David. When he had broken the seventh commandment, and taken the wife of Uriah to be his wife — the prophet Nathan said to him, "You have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme." (2 Samuel 12:14.) It was the sin which Paul charges on the Jews, when he says, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." (Romans 2:24.) It is the sin of which he frequently entreats Christians to beware, "Give no offence, neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God." (1 Corinthians 10:32.) The subject is a deeply searching one. The sin which our Lord brings before us, is unhappily very common. The inconsistencies of professing Christians, too often supply the men of the world with an excuse for neglecting religion altogether. An inconsistent believer, whether he knows it or not — is daily doing harm to souls.

Forgiveness as a transaction is impossible until the offender seeks that forgiveness. Forgiveness as a readiness to conduct the transaction is possible now. You can't give the present until it is requested, but you can have it wrapped and sitting by the door.