Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! - Matthew 18:21-22
Jesus teaches that forgiveness has no cap. Peter wanted a rule. Jesus wanted a heart. Forgive without keeping score.
Why it matters
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True forgiveness reflects God’s character (Matthew 18:35).
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God forgave us at infinite cost, so we forgive freely (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13).
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Unforgiveness traps us emotionally. It becomes a prison.
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A forgiven heart releases grudges and restores peace (Romans 5:1).
What Jesus meant
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“Seventy times seven” is not a math problem. It is a mindset.
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Forgiveness is an attitude before it is an action.
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When your heart is surrendered, you can forgive the eighth time as easily as the first.
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Nothing justifies clinging to an unforgiving spirit.
Broader Biblical reinforcement
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God forgives lavishly and repeatedly (Psalm 103:8–12).
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Love “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5).
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We are called to restore gently, not retaliate (Galatians 6:1).
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Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13).
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Bear with each other and forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13).
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If we do not forgive others, we block our own freedom (Matthew 6:14–15).
Spirit of the teaching
Forgiveness restores wholeness. It repairs relationships. It mirrors the grace God pours into us. A heart ready to forgive is a heart aligned with the Kingdom.
Reflection prompt
Who needs forgiveness from you today? What freedom would it create in your soul if you released the record of wrongs?
Closing quote
“He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.” —George Herbert
This was a repost from here: Jesus prescribes limitless readiness to forgive from the heart (Matthew 18:21-22),
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