Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter's question reveals a common human impulse: seeking definite boundaries for forgiveness, even when acknowledging its necessity. He's not just asking about a number, but about whether there's a point where repeated offenses should reasonably end our willingness to reconcile.
Jesus has just instructed his disciples on how to handle disagreements and how to bring offenders back into community. Peter, likely trying to grasp the practical limits of this radical forgiveness, asks how many times one should forgive. He proposes "seven times," a number that seemed exceptionally generous by the standards of the day, perhaps even pushing the boundaries of human endurance.
Peter, hearing Jesus talk about reconciliation, jumps in with a practical question. But his 'practical' limit reveals a common human struggle.
Peter asks Jesus, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?'
This question comes from a place of genuine bewilderment and perhaps a desire for a clear rule. The number seven, to Peter, felt like a lot – a generous upper limit. It was common in Jewish thought to have limits on forgiveness, often around three offenses.
Peter's question highlights a tension we all feel:
Jesus doesn't just give Peter a bigger number; He completely redefines the idea of a limit for forgiveness. It’s a radical shift!
Jesus’s response, 'I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven,' is astounding.
This isn't a mathematical formula for counting offenses. It's a hyperbolic way of saying:
Why such an extreme emphasis on endless forgiveness? It’s not just about being nice; it’s about embracing the very nature of God's kingdom.
Jesus’s teaching on unlimited forgiveness is rooted in the reality of the Kingdom of Heaven and our relationship with God.
Understand the original words
hamartanō · Greek Verb
Transgression against God or fellow man; falling short of God's holy standard.
aphiēmi · Greek Verb
The act of pardoning an offender, canceling a debt, or letting go of resentment; a core attribute of God extended to believers.
This passage presents Jesus' direct response to a similar question about forgiveness, emphasizing that there should be no set number, highlighting the boundless nature of God's forgiveness and our call to mirror it.
Colossians 3:13Paul echoes Jesus' teaching, urging believers to 'bear with each other and forgive one another' just as the Lord forgave them, directly linking our forgiveness from God to our willingness to forgive others.
Matthew 6:14-15Here, Jesus explicitly states the conditional nature of our own forgiveness: if we forgive others their sins, our heavenly Father will also forgive us. This underscores the seriousness of Peter's question and the divine implications of forgiveness.
Ephesians 4:32This verse powerfully connects forgiveness with the heart, urging kindness, tenderheartedness, and mutual forgiveness because God in Christ has forgiven us. It emphasizes the internal disposition required, going beyond mere outward acts.
The parable of the unmerciful servant, which immediately follows Peter's question, provides a vivid illustration of the immense debt we owe to God and the severity of withholding forgiveness from others, given the boundless mercy we have received.
calvinMatthew 18:21-35: "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?"
- Then Peter approaching him said, Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? 22. Jesus saith to him, I say not to thee till seven times, but till seventy times seven. 23. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is compared to a king, who wished to make a reckoning with his servants. 24. And when he had begun to reckon,…
henryMatthew 18:21-35: "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?"
18:21-35 Though we live wholly on mercy and forgiveness, we are backward to forgive the offences of our brethren. This parable shows how much provocation God has from his family on earth, and how untoward his servants are. There are three things in the parable: 1. The master's wonderful clemency. The debt of sin is so great, that we are not able to pay it. Se…
Peter's question reveals a common human impulse: seeking definite boundaries for forgiveness, even when acknowledging its necessity. He's not just asking about a number, but about whether there's a point where repeated offenses should reasonably end our willingness to reconcile.
Jesus has just instructed his disciples on how to handle disagreements and how to bring offenders back into community. Peter, likely trying to grasp the practical limits of this radical forgiveness, asks how many times one should forgive. He proposes "seven times," a number that seemed exceptionally generous by the standards of the day, perhaps even pushing the boundaries of human endurance.
Jesus has just instructed his disciples on how to handle disagreements and how to bring offenders back into community. Peter, likely trying to grasp the practical limits of this radical forgiveness, asks how many times one should forgive. He proposes "seven times," a number that seemed exceptionally generous by the standards of the day, perhaps even pushing the boundaries of human endurance.
"Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times." — Peter's question reveals a common human impulse: seeking definite boundaries for forgiveness, even when acknowledging its necessity. He's not just asking about a number, but about whether there's a p…
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