Fight the spite!

Simon Peter didn’t choose Matthew. Jesus did. A tax collector—someone who profited from Roman oppression—suddenly welcomed into their tight-knit group. Simon Peter can’t hide his disgust. In The Chosen, this tension is raw. You feel it. It’s not about competition—it’s about betrayal. Simon Peter doesn’t just question Matthew’s role; he questions Jesus for inviting him. Have you ever struggled with someone Jesus seems to welcome?

Forgiveness isn’t easy when the wound feels fresh and deep. In The Chosen, Simon Peter speaks with Jesus before he can even look Matthew in the eye. And it echoes something we find in the Bible—when Simon Peter asks, “How many times must I forgive?” Jesus answers: seventy-seven times. Meaning basically: ‘Over and over again’.

So… it’s not a number. It’s a way of life. And it’s hard. But Jesus doesn’t avoid messy people—He brings them together. In Luke 5, Jesus calls Matthew. He doesn’t wait for him to change or prove himself. He sees something in him already worthy of redemption. And even while Simon Peter wrestles with resentment, Jesus is already building a shared future for them both.

Simon Peter’s transformation in The Chosen isn’t just vertical—between him and God. It’s horizontal, too—between him and Matthew. The same is true for us. Faith can’t grow if forgiveness stays stuck. And forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting. It means choosing love over resentment, again and again. Jesus doesn’t pretend there’s no conflict—He walks us through it.

So, who is your Matthew? Who has wronged you, disappointed you, or simply gotten under your skin? Who do you secretly wish wasn’t at the table? You don’t need to fake it. Bring the struggle to Jesus—just like Simon Peter did. That honesty is holy ground. And it’s where real healing begins.