Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 18:21-22

"Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven." — Matthew 18:21-22 (ASV)

Then came Peter. The mention of the duty in Matthew 18:15—addressing a brother who had offended us, which implied the duty to forgive him—led Peter to ask how often this forgiveness should be extended.

Forgive him? To forgive is to treat someone as though the offence was not committed—to declare that we will not harbour malice or treat them unkindly, but that the matter shall be buried and forgotten.

Till seven times? The Jews taught that a person was to forgive another three times, but not the fourth. Peter more than doubled this and asked whether forgiveness was to be exercised to so great an extent.

Until seventy times seven. The meaning is that we are not to limit our forgiveness to any fixed number of times . As often as a brother injures us and asks for forgiveness, we are to forgive him. It is his duty to ask for forgiveness (Luke 17:4). If he does this, it is our duty to declare that we forgive him and to treat him accordingly. If he does not ask us to forgive him, we are nevertheless not at liberty to pursue him with revenge and malice, but are still to treat him kindly and do him good (Luke 10:30–37).