Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 18:21

Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 18:21 - 18:22

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 18:21 - 18:22

(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_18:21-22

²¹Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" ²²Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."

Mat_18:21

NASB, NKJV,

TEV " seventy times seven"

NRSV, NJB "seventy-seven times"

Peter was trying to be generous by using seven times (cf. Luk_17:4)! The Babylonian Talmud had three times as the maximum (cf. Amo_1:3; Amo_1:6; Amo_2:6). Jesus took forgiveness to the new metaphorical height of 7 x 70 (or possibly 77). This does not mean on the 491st time believers do not forgive, but that covenant brothers must always be ready to forgive other covenant brothers (cf. Luk_17:4) as God forgives them (cf. Mat_18:35). The new covenant has a radically new orientation to life (cf. Mat_18:15).