Matthew 18:21-22 – Meaning & Devotional
"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."
What This Verse Means
Peter thought he was being generous by offering to forgive seven times — rabbis typically taught forgiving three times. Jesus' response — seventy times seven (490) — isn't a literal count but a way of saying "stop counting." Forgiveness has no cap, no limit, no expiration date.
This doesn't mean tolerating abuse or avoiding boundaries. It means releasing the debt of offense rather than holding it over someone's head. Jesus follows this teaching with the parable of the unforgiving servant (v. 23-35), showing that those who have been forgiven an infinite debt by God must extend limitless forgiveness to others.
Historical Context
Jewish teaching generally required forgiving someone three times for the same offense, based on a pattern in Amos 1-2. Peter's offer of seven times more than doubled the standard and probably expected praise. Jesus' exponential expansion — seventy times seven — demolished the entire counting approach to forgiveness.
How to Apply This Today
Is there someone you've "reached your limit" with? God hasn't reached His limit with you. Stop counting offenses and start releasing them. This doesn't mean the relationship won't need boundaries, but it does mean your heart stays free from bitterness. Forgive today — again.
Related Verses
Ephesians 4:32
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Colossians 3:13
"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."
Mark 11:25
"And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
🙏 A Prayer from Matthew 18:21-22
Lord, I stop counting offenses today. Just as You have forgiven me an immeasurable debt, help me forgive others without limit. Free my heart from bitterness and fill it with Your merciful spirit. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Bible Questions
Common questions people ask about this passage — answered with KJV scripture.
What Does '70 Times 7' Mean?
When Peter asked how many times to forgive, Jesus said 'seventy times seven' — meaning forgiveness should be unlimited, not calculated or rationed.
Read answerWhat does the Bible say about forgiveness?
The Bible teaches that God freely forgives those who repent and that believers must forgive others as they have been forgiven — not seven times, but seventy times seven.
Read answerWhat Is the Tribulation?
The tribulation is a future seven-year period of unprecedented suffering and divine judgment on the earth before Christ's return.
Read answerHow Do You Forgive Others According to the Bible?
Biblical forgiveness means releasing bitterness and choosing not to hold someone's offense against them — just as God in Christ forgave us.
Read answerWho was the Apostle Peter?
Peter was a fisherman called by Jesus to be one of the twelve apostles, who became the leading spokesman of the early church despite famously denying Jesus three times.
Read answerWho Were the Twelve Apostles?
The twelve apostles were the men Jesus chose as His closest followers and commissioned to spread the gospel: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot (later replaced by Matthias).
Read answerDeep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
Related Reading
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