Chesterton: the sword

Saturday, February 8, 2014
Meditation:
    Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
    Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
    —Matthew 18:21-22 (KJV)
Quotation:
    Christianity ... came in startlingly with a sword, and clove one thing from another. It divided the crime from the criminal. The criminal we must forgive unto seventy times seven. The crime we must not forgive at all. It was not enough that slaves who stole wine inspired partly anger and partly kindness. We must be much more angry with theft than before, and yet much kinder to thieves than before. There was room for wrath and love to run wild.
    ... Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936), Orthodoxy, London, New York: John Lane Company, 1909, p. 175 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 18:21-22; Pr. 28:13; Matt. 5:48; 6:12; Mark 11:25; Luke 3:8-14; 19:2-10; Acts 5:1-5; Rom. 12:21; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Eph. 4:28; Heb. 4:12
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, teach me Your justice and mercy. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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