Matthew 18:22
Sunday, 5 April 2026
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matthew 18:22
“‘He says to him, Jesus, ‘Not, I say to you until sevenfold, but until seventy-fold, sevenfold!’” (CG)
In the previous verse, Peter came to Jesus and asked how many times he should forgive his brother sinning against him. Should it be up to seven times? In response, “He says to him, Jesus, ‘Not, I say to you until sevenfold.’”
Peter’s suggestion seemed magnanimous. He would demonstrate a careful, patient, and seemingly longsuffering attitude towards the person who was offending him.
However, despite this proposition, Jesus finds the number deficient. Peter’s assumption was that there was a termination of such forgiveness based upon human wear and tear on patience. It is a common mistake people make concerning theological and doctrinal matters, where we align our thoughts about God based on our emotions, mental constraints, etc.
God, however, is Spirit. His patience, for example, is unlimited. Having said that, this is only so when certain conditions are met. Again, as noted in the analysis of the previous verse, Peter’s question was incomplete in its scope. However, Jesus is answering it as it stands and will clarify the scope in His continued response. For now, He continues, saying, “but until seventy-fold, sevenfold!”
It is a new word, hebdomékontakis, seventy-fold. This is the only time it is seen in the New Testament. The meaning of the words is debated. Grammatically, the number could be interpreted in two ways. Some translations say seventy times seven (meaning 70 x 7). Some say seventy-seven times (77).
The latter is contextually what is intended. The word “times” is normally used. In this case, our minds think of multiplication of the next number. Thus, we think seventy... times... seven. But the Greek reads seventy times (70), seven times (7). Placing a comma between the two helps get the point. However, if one changes the word “times” to the ending “fold,” it clears things up: seventy-fold, sevenfold.
The number is used in the Greek translation of Genesis 4 –
And he said, Lamech, to his wives, Adah and Zillah, “You must hear my voice, wives Lamech. You must cause to enear my saying. For man, I killed to my wound, and child, to my stripe. 24For sevenfold [hebdomékontakis] he will be ‘caused to avenge Cain’, and Lamech, seventy and seven.” Genesis 4:23, 24 (CG)
There, the context is clear. The meaning is seventy-seven. The biblical precedent was set, and Jesus was certainly using that verse as a reference for his words to Peter. It was understood from the earliest writings that seventy-seven was the intent. However, later scholars expanded the meaning to 70x7 = 490. This was done to emphasize the magnanimity of the forgiveness. Later preachers picked this up and included it in their sermons.
The number seventy-seven is simply a way of saying the same thing Lamech was conveying, meaning an unlimited number. Repeating and/or doubling things in such a manner is intended to give such an idea to the mind of the hearers, and this is just what Peter would have understood.
Life application: As noted above, God’s patience is unlimited. And yet, God judged and destroyed His people at times. So how do those thoughts reconcile? Examples permeate Scripture. For example –
“And the children of Israel said to the Lord, ‘We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray.’ 16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord. And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel.” Judges 10:15, 16
Reading all of Judges 10:6-16 will give a better sense, but this portion is sufficient to see what is necessary for God’s “unlimited patience” to come about. The people turned, humbled themselves, and petitioned for deliverance. God did not automatically forgive them. Such a thing is not found in Scripture.
Sin causes a wall between God and man. It cannot simply be overlooked. It is something that must be dealt with. When the appropriate means of dealing with it have been effected, the forgiveness is granted. God does not expect more of us than He metes out upon us.
Again, Peter’s question is incomplete in and of itself, even if the intent behind it was implied. Any reasonable Jew would have known that God does not arbitrarily forgive. There are conditions to His forgiveness, and the same is true with us. Believers are not punching bags.
When an offense is brought to bear against another, there can be no true forgiveness without the offender acknowledging his wrongdoing. We can “let it go,” but that is all we can do until the matter is resolved by both parties. The utterly inane concept of forgiving everyone of every offense all the time, which is taught in Christian circles, is unbiblical and damaging to proper doctrine and theology.
Lord God, thank You for the cross of Jesus. Its potential for forgiveness is unlimited. But it actually only forgives those who come to You by faith in what it signifies. Help us, O God, to always remember the cost of our sin. To Your glory. Amen.
