Matthew 18:21-22 21Then after coming, Peter said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times but seventy times seven.
Peter has been listening carefully and now voices a question that has been growing in his mind. He heard Jesus teach about the need to confront a brother or sister who has wronged him. The emphasis in verses 15-20 has been on others who sin against us. What should our response be to these people? Peter has been an eager student (“disciple”) of Jesus for some time now. He concluded that forgiving others is important but did not know to what extent this forgiveness to be offered. Seven times is a generous amount of forgiveness, so Peter should be applauded for his conclusion. Seven is a good round number in the Bible for completeness.
But like other times, Jesus wanted Peter to go deeper in his faith and love. The Christian community is still in the background here as indicated by Peter’s use of the word brother. The idea of sinning against another person shows up again. Sin is the violation of love and can show up in countless ways that almost always result in brokenness and hurt. Peter thinks that seven times should be adequate and generous when it comes to forgiving someone who has done something wrong against us.
Jesus’ answer is surprising. There are two ways to interpret the Greek numbers mentioned in verse 22: 77 (addition) or 7×70=490 (multiplication). The exact meaning is not important.
There is a possible parallel or at least Old Testament background in Genesis 4:24: “If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold.” Jesus give the reversal. Once the case was revenge, which is still the way of the world, but in God’s kingdom, the way is forgiveness. Three times was the traditional limit for forgiveness (Amos 1:3, 6, 9; Job 33:29). Forgiveness was more of a temporary hold on further revenge, depending on how the other person would respond in the future.
Jesus’ exaggeration should have surprised Peter and the other disciples. Jesus is not concerned that someone keeps a tally sheet of the exact number of times to forgive another person. The great numbers of 77 or 490 emphasize the limitless forgiveness we should give to others. Forgiveness must come from the heart and be our way of life. Forgiveness does not mean we overlook the sin in others, because we must confront this sin out of love for the sake of the one who is sinning. We need and should want to restore that person. But from our own perspective and position, we forgive that person no matter what. Our job should be restorative and not retributive. Forgiveness should be the way of life of Jesus’ disciples.
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