Matthew 18:22 kjv
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:22 nkjv
Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:22 niv
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Matthew 18:22 esv
Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Matthew 18:22 nlt
"No, not seven times," Jesus replied, "but seventy times seven!
Matthew 18 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 17:3-4 | If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times...you must forgive him. | Repetition of forgiveness; similar to Peter's query. |
| Col 3:13 | Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance...as the Lord forgave you, so you must also forgive. | Forgive as Christ forgave. |
| Eph 4:32 | Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. | Forgive out of kindness, based on God's forgiveness. |
| Rom 12:20 | "If your enemy is hungry, feed him... If he is thirsty, give him something to drink..." | Overcoming evil with good; practical forgiveness. |
| 1 Cor 13:5 | [Love] keeps no record of wrongs. | Love's nature is to not resent or remember wrongs. |
| 1 Pet 4:8 | Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. | Love as the foundation for boundless forgiveness. |
| Mt 6:14-15 | For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you... | Our forgiveness of others directly relates to God's forgiveness of us. |
| Mk 11:25 | And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you... | Forgiveness required for effective prayer and divine favor. |
| Ps 103:2-3 | Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins... | God's comprehensive and total forgiveness. |
| Mic 7:18-19 | Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellion... He delights in steadfast love. | God's character defined by His delight in forgiveness. |
| Isa 43:25 | I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; I will not remember your sins. | God's forgiveness is complete, forgetting our sins. |
| Heb 8:12 | For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. | God's new covenant promise of full forgiveness. |
| 1 Jn 1:9 | If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. | Conditions and outcome of God's forgiveness. |
| Mt 18:23-35 | "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants..." | Parable of the unmerciful servant; immediate follow-up illustrating Jesus' teaching. |
| Gen 4:24 | If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times. | Contrast: Lamech's vengeance vs. Jesus' boundless forgiveness. |
| Mt 5:23-24 | So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift...be reconciled... | Reconciliation must precede worship. |
| Mt 7:12 | So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. | The Golden Rule, implying reciprocal mercy. |
| Phil 2:3-4 | Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves... | Humility required for true forgiveness and service. |
| Jas 2:13 | Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. | Mercy as a foundational principle in the Kingdom. |
| Rm 5:20 | The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. | God's grace abounds even more than sin. |
Matthew 18 verses
Matthew 18 22 Meaning
Matthew 18:22 proclaims that forgiveness within the community of believers is to be without limit or calculation, far surpassing any human measure of permissible offenses. It refutes the idea of a cap on forgiveness, instead promoting a boundless and continuous willingness to pardon those who wrong us, echoing God's infinite mercy.
Matthew 18 22 Context
Matthew chapter 18, often referred to as the "Discourse on Humility and Forgiveness" or "Community Discourse," addresses essential aspects of life within the Kingdom of Heaven. It begins with the disciples asking about greatness in the Kingdom, leading Jesus to emphasize childlike humility (v. 1-5). This sets the stage for warnings against causing others to stumble (v. 6-9) and the parable of the lost sheep (v. 10-14), stressing the value God places on each individual. Following this, Jesus provides instruction on how to deal with a sinning brother within the community (v. 15-20), culminating in the authority granted to the disciples to bind and loose. Peter, hearing these radical teachings on community responsibility, then asks the direct question in verse 21: "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?" Peter's question reflects the rabbinic tradition that limited forgiveness to three or four offenses; suggesting "seven times" was already an expression of generosity, a seemingly perfect and complete number for forgiveness. Jesus' answer in verse 22 directly counters Peter's limited, calculating approach, moving immediately into the parable of the unmerciful servant (v. 23-35) to profoundly illustrate the depth of forgiveness expected from His followers, in light of God's immense forgiveness toward them.
Matthew 18 22 Word analysis
- Jesus: From the Greek Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς), referring to the Son of God. His identity adds ultimate authority and truth to the statement, signifying it's not merely human advice but divine instruction for life in the Kingdom.
- answered: Greek apokrinomai (ἀποκρίνομαι), "to answer, reply." Indicates a direct, authoritative response to Peter's specific question, addressing a critical aspect of interpersonal relationships in the Christian community.
- "I tell you": Greek Legō soi (Λέγω σοι), an emphatic declaration, akin to "Truly, I say to you." It underscores the importance and certainty of Jesus' forthcoming teaching, indicating it's a truth from God.
- "not seven times": Greek ouch heptakis (οὐχ ἑπτάκις). "Seven" (heptakis) in Scripture often symbolizes completeness or perfection. Peter's suggestion of seven times was a generous interpretation of the Jewish legal tradition, which generally set forgiveness at three offenses (Amos 1:3). Jesus' immediate negation challenges the human inclination to quantify and limit acts of grace.
- "but seventy times seven" / "but seventy-seven times": Greek alla hebdomēkontakis hepta (ἀλλὰ ἑβδομηκοντάκις ἑπτά). This is the pivotal phrase.
- "but" (ἀλλά): Strong contrast, marking a radical shift from the preceding thought.
- "seventy times seven" (490) or "seventy-seven": This phrase has been interpreted in two ways:
- Literal Multiplication (70 x 7 = 490): This numerical sum suggests an immense, practically impossible to reach number, symbolizing an effectively infinite or unlimited forgiveness. This was common in the Septuagint translation practices.
- Cumulative Sum (70 + 7 = 77): This interpretation also signifies boundlessness, going beyond a precise numerical limit. The immediate context of Luke 17:4's "seven times a day" supports the cumulative nature, but the broader Scriptural echo points more towards the multiplication interpretation.
- Significance: The most widely accepted scholarly view points to Genesis 4:24 (Lamech's song of vengeance: "If Cain is avenged seven times, Lamech seventy-seven times/seventy times seven") as a direct literary and thematic parallel. Jesus uses Lamech's boast of endless, retaliatory vengeance (seventy-sevenfold retribution) to define the inverse for His disciples: limitless, unconditional forgiveness. This creates a powerful polemic against human desires for retaliation and instead champions an ethic of boundless reconciliation, characteristic of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 18 22 Bonus section
The choice of "seventy times seven" (or "seventy-seven") for boundless forgiveness directly contrasts with Genesis 4:24, where Lamech declares a vengeful retribution of "seventy-seven times." Jesus is not only establishing a new ethic for the Kingdom of God but also actively overturning an ancient paradigm of escalating vengeance with one of escalating grace and mercy. This is a deliberate inversion, showcasing the stark difference between a world ruled by human fallenness and the divine rule of love and forgiveness. Furthermore, while the primary focus is on internal church relationships, the underlying principle extends to all interactions: the Christian walk is one marked by a disposition of infinite patience and forgiveness, reflecting the character of Christ Himself. The numerical ambiguity (70x7 vs. 77) ultimately points to the same truth: the impossibility of quantifying God's grace or the forgiveness required of His followers.
Matthew 18 22 Commentary
Matthew 18:22 represents a radical redefinition of forgiveness within the Christian life. Jesus directly confronts the human tendency to limit grace and set boundaries on mercy. Peter's question, while seemingly generous by the standards of his day, still sought a quantitative measure. Jesus' response of "seventy times seven" or "seventy-seven times" shatters this quantifiable approach entirely. It does not provide a new, impossibly high number for us to reach, but rather a profound hyperbolic expression signifying unlimited, inexhaustible forgiveness. This teaching stems from God's own character; since God's forgiveness towards humanity is infinite and complete, believers are called to extend that same boundless mercy to others within their community. This is not about condoning sin, but about being willing to restore relationships when genuine repentance is evident, embodying the abundant grace found in the Kingdom. The immediately following parable of the unmerciful servant reinforces this, demonstrating the severe consequences of failing to extend the same mercy one has received.
- Example: When a family member consistently offends, rather than keeping a tally of grievances or deciding "enough is enough," the teaching calls for a spirit of ongoing reconciliation and release of bitterness.
- Example: In a church conflict, this principle guides members and leaders to pursue genuine forgiveness and restoration rather than fostering long-held resentments or imposing arbitrary limits on chances for reconciliation.