3 or 490

Compare the two:

Your brother sins against you.

First, talk one on one. Then, take a trusted friend. And finally, get the larger group involved. After that, he’s out.

Or

Continually forgive.

Jesus said both to the same group of people at the same time (see Matthew 18:15-22).

The difference: in the first case, the guy didn’t care about restoration.

Jesus said, be clear: it’s a matter of the heart, not the record. That’s the line.