Matthew 18:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

NIV: Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

NASB: Jesus *said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times.

CSB: "I tell you, not as many as seven," Jesus replied, "but seventy times seven.

NLT: No, not seven times,' Jesus replied, 'but seventy times seven!

KJV: Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

NKJV: Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Peter has asked Jesus a question about forgiving someone who sins against you. Apparently, Judaism required you to forgive the same person three times for the same offense. Peter, perhaps thinking he is being generous, asks Jesus if he should forgive someone who sins against him up to seven times. Jesus says no. Instead, you must be prepared for effectively unlimited forgiveness.

The only scholarly debate over this verse is irrelevant to how these words are meant to be applied. It can be argued that the Greek construction here means "seventy and seven," meaning seventy-seven times. However, it can also be construed to mean something like "70 times 7 times," meaning 490.

It's possible that Jesus, in naming the number 77, is playing off the words of boastful Lamech in Genesis 4:24. Lamech was talking about revenge against those who might harm him for killing a man. God had promised that Cain would be avenged seven times if anyone killed him. Lamech said to his wives, "If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold."

Fortunately, nuances of Greek grammar don't impact the main point being made. Here, and in the parable to follow, Jesus means that believers in Him should forgive and keep on forgiving without any plan to stop.

Matthew 18:21–35 answers Peter's question about how many times he should forgive a brother who sins against him. Jesus tells a parable about the servant of a king. The king forgives the man's enormous, unpayable debt. In turn, the servant refuses to forgive the much smaller debt owed him by another and has that man thrown in prison. The king is furious and asks the servant why he did not show the same mercy he had been given. The king has the man jailed until he pays everything. Jesus says that God the Father will do the same to those who do not forgive their brothers.

Jesus uses two questions from the disciples to teach important lessons. The "greatest" in the kingdom is the one who humbles himself like a child. Temptation is unavoidable in earthly life, but it's worth going to extremes to avoid falling for it. Even so, those who fall should not be hated and despised. God the Father values them highly and wants none of them to perish. In fact, Jesus lays out a clear, careful process to confront sin in others before removing them from the community. Christ also replies to Peter's question about forgiveness with a parable. This story represents both God's amazing forgiveness, and the way we ought to respond as Christians.

Matthew 18 follows the action of the previous chapter with teaching from Jesus on several issues. These include humility, using the example of a child. Jesus also teaches about avoiding sin and offering forgiveness to others. Interestingly, the following chapter will also feature references to children and to wealth, as Christ continues to explain the will of God to His disciples.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.