When Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who wronged him, the answer was startling: "seventy times seven." But what did this really mean?

As our professor explains to his curious student, this wasn't a mathematical formula but a profound inversion of an ancient ethic. Where Lamech in Genesis once boasted of seventy-sevenfold vengeance, Jesus established a new kingdom ethic of unlimited mercy.

"Forgiveness begins with a decision before it becomes a feeling," the professor reminds us. "The emotions may take years to catch up." This challenging truth reminds us that forgiveness isn't merely emotional release but a deliberate choice that sometimes must be made repeatedly as new dimensions of hurt surface.

In the divine economy, forgiveness always costs someone something—a reality perfectly demonstrated at the cross...

When Jesus declared "I desire mercy, not sacrifice," He wasn't simply settling a dispute about Sabbath observance – He was revealing a profound truth about God's heart. Through the lens of a thought-provoking conversation between a professor and her student, this post explores how this ancient wisdom transforms our understanding of religious practice. Discover how mercy becomes not just an exception to religious rules, but the very key to understanding God's purpose for them. This fresh perspective challenges us to examine how we read Scripture, practice our faith, and relate to both God and others.

In a landscape painted in soft rose and cream, an ornate stone bridge invites dreamers into an enchanted realm. Delicate trees arch over crystal waters while deer pause in their morning wanderings. A gentle waterfall whispers among the flowering undergrowth, creating a scene where human artistry and nature's beauty blend seamlessly. Here, reality melts into dreams, and every view tells a story in the gentle hues of dawn.