Matthew 18:22

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.

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 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.

24 When the king began to collect his money, a servant who owed him several million dollars was brought to him.