Matthew 18:21 kjv
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Matthew 18:21 nkjv
Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
Matthew 18:21 niv
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?"
Matthew 18:21 esv
Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"
Matthew 18:21 nlt
Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?"
Matthew 18 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 18:22 | Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." | Jesus' immediate, expansive answer to Peter, emphasizing unlimited forgiveness. |
| Luke 17:3-4 | "If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him... If he sins against you seven times...and returns saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” | Jesus gives similar teaching, but ties forgiveness to repentance. |
| Matt 6:14-15 | "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you..." | Our forgiveness from God is linked to our willingness to forgive others. |
| Mark 11:25-26 | "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions." | The importance of a forgiving heart in prayer and receiving God's pardon. |
| Matt 18:23-35 | Parable of the Unforgiving Servant | Directly illustrates the consequences of an unforgiving spirit, linked to God's mercy. |
| Eph 4:32 | "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." | A New Testament imperative for mutual forgiveness among believers. |
| Col 3:13 | "bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you." | Forgiveness as a key component of living a Christ-like life in community. |
| Ps 103:3 | "Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;" | God's character as a gracious forgiver. |
| Is 55:7 | "Let the wicked forsake his way...And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon." | God's willingness to forgive those who turn to Him. |
| Mic 7:18-19 | "Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act...He delights in unchanging love. He will again have compassion on us;" | God's unique nature as one who delights in forgiving sin completely. |
| Dan 9:9 | "To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him;" | Confirms God's inherent nature of compassion and forgiveness for sin. |
| Neh 9:17 | "...they refused to listen, And did not remember Your wondrous deeds...But You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in unchanging love, and You did not abandon them." | Attributes God's forgiveness as foundational to His character. |
| Heb 8:12 | "For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and their sins I will remember no more." | The completeness of God's forgiveness under the New Covenant. |
| 1 John 1:9 | "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." | God's faithfulness to forgive confessed sin. |
| Rom 12:17-21 | "Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God...But if your enemy is hungry, feed him...Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." | Embracing good instead of retaliation, embodying a forgiving spirit. |
| Prov 19:11 | "A person’s discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression." | Wisdom calls for patient overlooking of offenses. |
| Luke 23:34 | "But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."" | Jesus' ultimate example of forgiveness on the cross. |
| Gen 4:24 | "If Cain is avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold." | The contrast between escalating revenge (Lamech) and divine forgiveness (Jesus' "seventy times seven"). |
| Amos 1:3-2:6 | Often repeating "For three transgressions...and for four," God's judgment comes. | Cultural background for Jewish idea of a limit to patience/forgiveness, contrasted with Peter's proposed 'seven' and Jesus' 'unlimited'. |
| John 13:34-35 | "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." | Forgiveness is an act of love crucial to Christian identity. |
| 1 Pet 4:8 | "Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins." | Love is the driving force behind comprehensive forgiveness. |
| Matt 5:38-42 | "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." | Jesus teaches radical love and non-retaliation, extending beyond mere forgiveness. |
Matthew 18 verses
Matthew 18 21 Meaning
Matthew 18:21 records a pivotal question from Peter to Jesus, revealing a common human inclination to set boundaries on acts of mercy. Peter asks, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" This query immediately follows Jesus' teaching on reconciliation and dealing with a brother who sins, suggesting Peter is seeking a practical, measurable rule for the application of forgiveness within the believing community. Peter's proposed limit of "seven times" likely reflects an attempt to exceed customary rabbinic teachings that often suggested forgiving three offenses, presenting his suggestion as quite generous.
Matthew 18 21 Context
Matthew chapter 18, often referred to as the "Discourse on the Kingdom of Heaven," primarily focuses on community life within the early Christian fellowship. It begins with the disciples' question about greatness in the kingdom (18:1), which Jesus answers by highlighting the humility and faith of a child (18:2-4). The chapter then moves to warnings against causing a "little one" to stumble (18:5-9), the parable of the lost sheep emphasizing God's care for each individual (18:10-14), and a detailed protocol for dealing with a sinning brother (18:15-20), involving private rebuke, witnesses, and finally, bringing the matter before the church if necessary.
Peter's question in verse 21 arises directly from this immediate context of church discipline and reconciliation. Having heard the instructions on confronting a brother who sins, Peter likely recognized the need for repeated efforts at reconciliation. His question reflects a natural human desire to establish clear limits and quantifiable rules, even in matters of grace. The historical context indicates that rabbinic teachings often suggested a limit of forgiveness, commonly citing three times. Peter's proposal of "seven times" might have been perceived as remarkably generous by his contemporaries, pushing the boundaries of traditional understanding, yet still rooted in a concept of limitation. This set the stage for Jesus to reveal a vastly different, unbounded principle of divine forgiveness, illustrating that true mercy knows no human-set limits.
Matthew 18 21 Word analysis
- Then Peter: The Greek "Πέτρος" (Petros). Peter, one of the most prominent disciples, often served as the spokesman for the group, known for his impulsiveness and direct questions. This indicates a genuine desire for practical understanding of Jesus' teaching.
- came to Him: Greek "προσερχομαι" (proserchomai), meaning "to approach, come near." Signifies a direct, intentional address to Jesus.
- and said, 'Lord': Greek "εἶπον" (eipo), "said," and "Κύριος" (Kyrios), "Lord." Peter addresses Jesus with respect and acknowledges His authority as a teacher and master.
- how often: Greek "ποσάκις" (posakis), meaning "how many times," "how frequently." This emphasizes Peter's concern with the frequency and number of times forgiveness should be extended, seeking a quantifiable measure. It highlights the human tendency to try to set boundaries even on God's principles.
- shall my brother: Greek "ἀδελφός μου" (adelphos mou), "my brother." In this context, it primarily refers to a fellow believer within the Christian community or the church, emphasizing the importance of communal harmony and care among spiritual siblings. This extends beyond merely biological brothers to anyone with whom one shares faith.
- sin against me,: Greek "ἁμαρτάνω εἰς ἐμέ" (hamartano eis eme), meaning "to miss the mark, to err, to trespass against me." This specifies a personal offense or transgression that directly affects Peter, indicating a need for personal forgiveness rather than a general moral transgression.
- and I forgive him?: Greek "καὶ ἀφήσω αὐτῷ;" (kai apheso auto;), meaning "and I shall let him go, release, send away, pardon him?" The question implies Peter is considering his active role in granting forgiveness, indicating a personal release of resentment or claim. "Aphēmi" (ἀφίημι), the root word, is a strong term for "sending away" sin or debt.
- Up to seven times?: Greek "ἕως ἑπτάκις;" (heōs heptakis), meaning "up to seven times." This specific number is significant. While some rabbinic tradition suggested forgiving only three times (a number linked to God's warnings to nations in Amos, where God judges for "three transgressions... and for four," implying after the third, judgment is certain), Peter's "seven times" would be seen as exceeding this customary limit and exhibiting a generous spirit. However, it still implies a definitive limit, challenging Jesus' unbounded principle. In other contexts, "seven" can represent completeness or perfection, but here Peter is using it to signify a maximum allowance.
Matthew 18 21 Bonus section
Peter's question underscores the perennial human struggle with practical application of spiritual truths. While chapter 18 sets guidelines for church discipline (18:15-20), implying consequences for unrepentant sin, Peter’s specific query focuses on the personal act of forgiveness when an offense is repeated. The interaction serves as a powerful corrective against calculating one's compassion, reminding us that forgiveness is not contingent on the deservingness of the offender after a certain point, but on the nature of God's love poured out through Christ. It's a call to move beyond mere compliance to a radical commitment to unending mercy within the body of Christ, echoing God's own unwavering love for His people.
Matthew 18 21 Commentary
Matthew 18:21 captures the tension between human limits and divine expectation concerning forgiveness. Peter's question, though seemingly generous by the standards of his time, fundamentally misunderstands the nature of kingdom forgiveness. His desire for a fixed number reveals a legalistic mindset, attempting to measure and thus exhaust mercy. Jesus, in His subsequent reply (18:22) and the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (18:23-35), shatters this finite understanding. Forgiveness, in the Kingdom of Heaven, is not a quantifiable transaction to be dispensed until a quota is met; it is a quality of God's character that believers are called to embody infinitely, mirroring the limitless mercy they have received from Him. The emphasis shifts from measuring another's transgressions to reflecting God's abundant pardon within our own lives and community.