Luke 17:3-4

Luke 17:3b-4 deals with the continual need for believers to forgive repentant fellow believers (cf. Matt 18:15-20). Christianity is not a private affair, it effects the entire community. Sinning brothers are to be rebuked. So lovingly approaching such sinners reveals the community's commitment to righteousness. Since biblical rebuke seeks the offender's repentance, it is understood as being loving and caring rather than judgmental (Gal. 6:1-6). A sinner's repentance should produce the church's forgiveness. As to Luke 17:4 see "The unmerciful servant" below. Hughes says:

But regardless of the personal nature of the offense and the repetition of the offense, if the other person repents, you are to forgive him. This forgiveness is, to cite the adjectives used by various commentators, "boundless," "total," "immeasurable," and "habitual." Jesus places the burden of responsibility on the person forgiving rather than on the person who is repenting. The benefit of the doubt goes entirely to the one being forgiven. This raises immense practical difficulties. What about hypocritical requests for forgiveness? What if the sins being repented of repeatedly hurt others? Obviously there are some qualifications. Nevertheless, Jesus' teaching does identify in sharp contours what genuine forgiveness is all about - upon whom the burden lies and the extent of forgiveness. It is better to be willing to forgive seven times a day even though the "brother" is not sincere than to refuse to forgive a truly repentant soul and thus place a stumbling block in his way.

This is difficult stuff. We must rebuke sin, even though we do not want to; and we must forgive sin, even though we do not want to. But obedience in these matters is sublime, because to do so is to become more like God. He always stands against sin in perpetual rebuke, and yet he also delights to forgive repentant sinners. His forgiveness is limitless. Has not God forgiven each of us countless times? All with such a spirit have become like God.