Matthew 18:22

22 "I tell you, not as many as seven," Jesus said to him, "but 70 times seven. ^[a]

Matthew 18:22 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 18:22

Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee
Which is as if he had said, observe what I am about to say, I do not agree to what thou sayest to fix the number, "until seven times only", but

until seventy times seven;
a certain number for an uncertain, see ( Genesis 4:24 ) . Christ's meaning is, that a man should be all the days, and every day of his life, forgiving those that sin against him, as often as they repent and acknowledge their fault; and that no time is to be set for the exercise of the grace of forgiveness; but as often as there are objects and occasions, though ever so many and frequent, it should be used; and which he illustrates by the following parable.

Matthew 18:22 In-Context

20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them."

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

22 "I tell you, not as many as seven," Jesus said to him, "but 70 times seven.

23 For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.

24 When he began to settle accounts, one who owed 10,000 talents was brought before him.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or but 77 times