Reflections on Church from Zach

Matthew 18:21-22 - Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."

Wow. Imagine your best friend (Frank) coming over to your house, getting in your purse/wallet and taking a dollar from you. You catch Frank in the act. Could you forgive him for what he did? Sure. It's just a dollar. Then you catch Frank again rooting through your handbag, with another dollar in his mouth as he's trying to close the clasp on the purse. What's this guys problem? I'd rip him a good one, and tell him to leave. Imagine Frank coming over to your house 490 times, and you catch him trying to steal a dollar each day. The Bible says our reaction each time should be to politely tell him to put it back and go in to drink some coffee or something. Forgive, forgive, forgive. What if, say, you're at a big carnival with Frank and he asks you to borrow 20 bucks to get a funnel cake. With the knowledge gained from Frank's history, I'd ask Frank if he's already taken it out of my wallet. But God tells us to give him the 20 dollars, and to trust that he'll be paying us back. Because that's what forgiveness is right? Forgiveness is totally erasing the wrongdoing that someone has caused us from our knowledge and to go on as if nothing happened. Could you forgive Frank???? Adios!