Matthew 18:21

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, when my fellow believer sins against me, how many times must I forgive him? Should I forgive him as many as seven times?"

Matthew 18:21 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 18:21

Then came Peter unto him
Having heard and observed the rules Christ gave concerning offences and brotherly reproofs, he drew near to Christ, and put this question to him:

and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I
forgive him?
He instances in a brother, because it was such an one Christ had been speaking of; he makes no doubt of its being his duty to forgive him upon his repentance, and acknowledgment, but wanted to be reformed, how often this was to be done, and asks, whether

until seven times?
Which was, as he might think, a large number; and especially, since it was double the number of times, that the Jewish doctors set for forgiveness: for thus they say ^F4,

``A man that commits a sin, the "first" time they pardon him; the "second" time they pardon him; the "third" time they pardon him: the "fourth" time they do not pardon, according to ( Amos 2:6 ) ( Job 33:29 ) .''

Again,

``he that says I have sinned, and I repent, they forgive him "unto three times", and no more ^F5.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 36. 2. Mainion. Hilch. Teshuba. c. 3. sect. 5.
F5 Abot. R. Nathan, c. 40. fol. 9. 3.

Matthew 18:21 In-Context

19 "Also, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about something and pray for it, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

20 This is true because if two or three people come together in my name, I am there with them."

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, when my fellow believer sins against me, how many times must I forgive him? Should I forgive him as many as seven times?"

22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, you must forgive him more than seven times. You must forgive him even if he does wrong to you seventy-seven times.

23 "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who decided to collect the money his servants owed him.