Matthew 18:21 - Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?”
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What does "Matthew 18:21" mean?
This verse, Matthew 18:21, is a question posed by Peter to Jesus about the extent to which he should forgive a brother who sins against him. Let's break it down:
"Then Peter came and said to him..." This sets the scene. Peter is approaching Jesus with a specific question related to forgiveness.
"Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?" Peter is concerned about the seemingly endless possibility of repeated offenses. He wants to know how many times he's obligated to forgive the same person.
"Until seven times?" Peter proposes a number, likely thinking he is being generous. In Jewish tradition, some rabbis taught that forgiveness was required only up to three times. Peter, suggesting seven, might feel he's exceeding the norm.
Meaning and Context
Peter's question stems from a human desire to set limits. Forgiveness can be difficult, especially when someone repeatedly hurts us. Peter wants a clear boundary: how many times must he forgive before he's off the hook?
The underlying implication is that Peter, like many of us, is wrestling with the challenge of extending forgiveness to someone who repeatedly sins against him. He's looking for a concrete rule.
What follows in the next verse(22): Jesus does not give him a number, but extends it to seventy times seven (77) meaning you should forgive them an unlimited amount of times.
Matthew 18:21 - Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?”
What does "Matthew 18:21" mean?
This verse, Matthew 18:21, is a question posed by Peter to Jesus about the extent to which he should forgive a brother who sins against him. Let's break it down:
"Then Peter came and said to him..." This sets the scene. Peter is approaching Jesus with a specific question related to forgiveness.
"Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?" Peter is concerned about the seemingly endless possibility of repeated offenses. He wants to know how many times he's obligated to forgive the same person.
"Until seven times?" Peter proposes a number, likely thinking he is being generous. In Jewish tradition, some rabbis taught that forgiveness was required only up to three times. Peter, suggesting seven, might feel he's exceeding the norm.
Meaning and Context
Peter's question stems from a human desire to set limits. Forgiveness can be difficult, especially when someone repeatedly hurts us. Peter wants a clear boundary: how many times must he forgive before he's off the hook?
The underlying implication is that Peter, like many of us, is wrestling with the challenge of extending forgiveness to someone who repeatedly sins against him. He's looking for a concrete rule.
What follows in the next verse(22): Jesus does not give him a number, but extends it to seventy times seven (77) meaning you should forgive them an unlimited amount of times.