Run through Matthew alone a moment. Here in the fifth chapter:[16] "If thou are coming to the altar"--that is approaching God; what we call prayer--"and rememberest that thy brother hath aught _against thee_"--that side of it--"leave there thy gift and go thy way, _first_ be reconciled," and so on. Here comes a man with a lamb to offer. He approaches solemnly, reverently, towards the altar of God. But as he is coming there flashes across his mind the face of _that man_, with whom he has had difficulty. And instantly he can feel his grip tightening on the offering, and his teeth shutting closer at the quick memory. Jesus says, "If that be so lay your lamb right down." What! go abruptly away! Why! how the folks around the temple will talk! "Lay the lamb right down, and go thy way." The shortest way to God for that man is not the way to the altar, but around by that man's house. "_First_, be reconciled"--keep your perspective straight--follow the right order--"_first_ be reconciled"--not _second; "then_ come and offer thy gift." In the sixth chapter[17] He gives the form of prayer which we commonly call the Lord's prayer. It contains seven petitions. At the close He stops to emphasize just one of the seven. You remember which one; the one about forgiveness. In the eighteenth chapter[18] Jesus is talking alone with the disciples about prayer. Peter seems to remember the previous remarks about forgiveness in connection with prayer; and he asks a question. It is never difficult to think of Peter asking a question or making a few remarks. He says, "Master, how many times _must_ I forgive a man? _Seven_ times!" Apparently Peter thinks he is growing in grace. He can actually _think_ now of forgiving a man seven times in succession. But the Master in effect says, "Peter, you haven't caught the idea. Forgiveness is not a question of mathematics; not a matter of _keeping tab_ on somebody: not seven times but _seventy times seven._" And Peter's eyes bulge open with an incredulous stare--"four hundred and ninety times!... one man--straightway!!" Apparently the Master is thinking, that he will lose count, or get tired of counting and conclude that forgiveness is preferable, or else by practice _breathe in the spirit of forgiveness--the_ thing He meant.