Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 18:21

"Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?" — Matthew 18:21 (ASV)

The issue here is not the adjudication of the church, still less the absolute granting of forgiveness by the church (only God and Jesus can ultimately forgive sins), but personal forgiveness (cf. 6:14–15). In rabbinic discussion, the consensus was that a person might be forgiven a repeated sin three times; on the fourth, there was no forgiveness. Peter, thinking himself big-hearted, volunteers “seven times” in answer to his own question.

Jesus’ response alludes to Ge 4:24: Lamech’s revenge is transformed into a principle of forgiveness. Jesus is not saying that seventy-seven times is the upper limit, nor that the forgiveness is so unqualified that it vitiates the discipline and procedural step just taught (vv.15–20). Rather, he teaches that forgiveness of fellow members in his community of “little ones” (see comment on vv.5–6) cannot possibly be limited by frequency or quantity; for, as the ensuing parable shows (vv.23–35), all of them have been forgiven far more than they will ever forgive.