Matthew 18:21–22 — Forgiving Without Limit

Matthew 18:21–22

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'"
— Matthew 18:21–22 (NIV)

Reflection

Forgiveness is easy in theory, hard in practice. When the wound is fresh or the hurt has been repeated, the natural impulse is to keep count. Peter's question captures that impulse: surely there must be a reasonable limit. Yet Jesus' reply removes the ledger entirely. Forgiveness is not a calculation to be managed; it is a posture to be maintained.

Seventy-seven times is not about arithmetic but about abundance. The point is that forgiveness should be inexhaustible because God's forgiveness towards you is inexhaustible. Each time you release an offence, you are choosing freedom over captivity, grace over bitterness. To cling to resentment is to rehearse pain; to forgive is to reflect the mercy of Christ, who forgave without measure.

This teaching does not trivialise sin. It acknowledges its weight but insists that grace is heavier still. To forgive as Jesus commands is to root your response in the cross, where every sin was borne and every debt paid. That reality turns forgiveness from an impossible demand into a testimony of divine strength working through human weakness.

Biblical Insight

In Jewish tradition, forgiving three times was considered sufficient. Peter's suggestion of seven times was generous by those standards. Jesus' reply shatters the boundaries of conventional mercy. The broader passage that follows includes the parable of the unforgiving servant, which illustrates the danger of receiving God's mercy yet refusing to extend it. Forgiveness is not peripheral to the Christian life; it is central, because it mirrors the heart of the gospel itself.

In Application

  • Examine whether you are keeping count of offences, even quietly. Release that record to God.
  • Ask for strength to forgive repeatedly, even when your emotions lag behind your decision.
  • Remember that forgiveness is not condoning sin but refusing to let it control your future.

Practical Journaling

Reflect on Matthew 18:21–22, then write candidly:

  • Is there someone you have forgiven once or twice, but where bitterness still resurfaces?
  • What fears hold you back from forgiving freely and fully?
  • How might remembering God's unlimited forgiveness towards you soften your response to others?

Take as much time as you need with this exercise, and if writing feels too difficult today, simply holding these questions in prayer is enough.

You should also read: