Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NASB

If you are here this morning and a Christian for more than a month or two, you have probably asked Lord Jesus this question; Lord what do you mean when you say ‘forgive others seventy times seven’?

(1) Jesus said we are to forgive others “seventy times seven” in response to Peter’s question, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” To fully understand what Jesus was saying, we must look at the context of the whole chapter, for Jesus was speaking not only about forgiving one another but about Christian character, both in and out of the church. The admonition to forgive our brother seventy times seven…

(2) …follows Jesus’ discourse on discipline in the church (we see that in Matt 18:15-20), in which He lays down the rules for restoring a sinning brother or sister. Peter, wishing to appear especially forgiving and benevolent, asked Jesus if forgiveness was to be offered seven times. The Jewish rabbis at the time taught that forgiving someone more than three times was unnecessary, citing Amos 1:3-13 where God forgave Israel’s enemies three times, then punished them.

(3) By offering forgiveness more than double that of the Old Testament example, Peter perhaps expected extra commendation from the Lord. When Jesus responded that forgiveness should be offered four hundred and ninety times, far beyond that which Peter was proposing, it must have stunned the disciples who were listening. Although they had been with Jesus for some time, they were still thinking in the limited terms of the law, rather than in the unlimited terms of grace.

(4) By saying we are to forgive those who sin against us seventy times seven, Jesus was not limiting forgiveness to 490 times, a number that is, for all practical purposes, beyond counting. Christians with forgiving hearts not only do not limit the number of times they forgive; they continue to forgive with as much grace the thousandth time as they do the first time. Christians are only capable of this type of forgiving spirit because the Spirit of God lives within us, and it is…

(5) …Those who provide the ability to offer forgiveness over and over, just as God forgives us over and over. Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant follows directly after His “seventy times seven” speech, driving home the point that if we are forgiven the enormous debt of sin against a holy God, how much more should we be eager to forgive those who sin against us, who are just as sinful as they? Paul parallels this example in Eph: “Be kind to one…

(6) …another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭32‬ ‭NASB. Clearly we can hear that forgiveness is not to be measured out in a limited fashion but is to be abundant, overflowing, and available to all, just as the measureless grace of God is poured out upon us. Therefore we can say without any reservation that the Bible has quite a bit to say about forgiveness and unforgiveness. Do you agree?

(7) Perhaps the most well-known teaching on unforgiveness is Jesus’ parable of the unmerciful servant, recorded and also our study passage today. “Vs:14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Vs:15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV. Do not be confused here; God’s forgiveness is not based on our works. Forgiveness and salvation are…

(8) …founded completely in the person of God and by Jesus’ redeeming work on the cross. However, our actions demonstrate our faith and the extent to which we understand God’s grace. One of the greatest word pictures (STORY) would be this woman, turning toward the woman. He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

(9) You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭44‬-‭48‬ ‭NASB. We are completely unworthy, yet Jesus chose to pay the price for our sins and to…

(10) …give us forgiveness “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NASB. When we truly grasp the greatness of God’s gift to us, we will pass the gift along. We have been given grace and should give grace to others in return. Way too often we, like those in this parable, are appalled at the servant who would not forgive a minor debt after having been forgiven their unpayable debt.

(11) Yet, when we are unforgiving, we act just like the servant we see in this parable. Unforgiveness also robs us of the full life God intends for us. Rather than promote justice, our unforgiveness festers into bitterness, “Vs:14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. Vs:15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;”

(12) We see this in Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NASB. Last thought this morning; “Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

(13) For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his Lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’

(14) And the Lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their Lord all that had happened.

(15) Then summoning him, his Lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ And his Lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬-‭35‬ ‭NASB