“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
—Matthew 18:21–22 (KJV)
Forgiveness is one of the hardest commands Jesus gives His followers. In Matthew 18, Peter voices a question that still echoes in the hearts of believers today: How much forgiveness is enough?
Peter believed he was being generous. In Jewish tradition, forgiving someone three times was considered sufficient. Peter doubled that number and added one more, offering seven—often seen as a number of spiritual completeness. Surely that would meet God’s standard.
Jesus’ response went far beyond Peter’s expectation. “Seventy times seven.” With those words, Christ removed all limits on forgiveness.
Unlimited Forgiveness, Not Careful Counting
Jesus was not setting a numeric limit of 490 offenses. He was dismantling the entire idea of keeping score. Kingdom forgiveness does not operate with a ledger. It flows freely, continually, and without condition.
This teaching came in the context of Jesus instructing His disciples about humility, reconciliation, and life in the kingdom of God. The values of the kingdom stand in direct contrast to the values of the world. The world forgives cautiously and conditionally. Christ calls His people to forgive completely and repeatedly.
Forgiveness is not optional for the believer. It is evidence of a transformed heart.
Forgiveness Reveals the Heart of the Forgiven
Forgiveness is not only about the person who sinned against us—it reveals something deeper about us. Those who have truly received mercy are called to extend mercy.
Paul later echoed this truth when he wrote, “Forgive one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). We forgive because we have been forgiven. We show grace because grace was shown to us first.
A heart that refuses forgiveness has lost sight of the cross.
The Hidden Cost of Unforgiveness
Unforgiveness does not protect us; it imprisons us. Bitterness takes root quietly, but it grows quickly. It hardens the heart, clouds judgment, and steals peace.
Jesus illustrated this danger in the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:23–35). A man forgiven an enormous debt refused to forgive a small one. The result was severe judgment. The message is unmistakable: receiving mercy while refusing to give it is incompatible with the kingdom of God.
Those who have been forgiven much are called to forgive much.
Living the Life of “Seventy Times Seven”
How do believers live out this command in daily life?
By remembering the cross. Every struggle to forgive must be brought back to Calvary, where Christ bore our sins without restraint.
By choosing mercy over pride. Forgiveness does not deny that wrong was done. It releases the offender from personal vengeance and places justice in God’s hands.
By depending on grace. Forgiveness is not natural to the flesh. It is a work of the Holy Spirit shaping the believer into the likeness of Christ.
Conclusion
Jesus’ command to forgive “seventy times seven” is not about numbers—it is about a way of life. It is a call to live as citizens of the kingdom, reflecting the endless mercy of God in every relationship.
To keep count of offenses is to miss the heart of Christ. But to forgive without measure is to walk in freedom, healing, and grace. The forgiven must become forgivers.
That is the mark of true discipleship.