Matthew 18:22 BSB — MannaFest

Matthew 18:22

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.

KJV

Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

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Commentary

4 voices

Tertullian

On Modesty (220)

Who, moreover, was able to forgive sins? This is His alone prerogative: for "who remitteth sins but God alone? " and, of course, (who but He can remit) mortal sins, such as have been committed against Himself, and against His temple? For, as far as you are concerned, such as are chargeable with offence against you personally, you are commanded, in the person of Peter, to forgive even seventy times sevenfold.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

Seventy times seven - There is something very remarkable in these words, especially if collated with Gen 4:24, where the very same words are used - “If any man kill Lamech, he shall be avenged seventy times seven.” The just God punishes sin in an exemplary manner. Sinful man, who is exposed to the stroke of Divine justice, should be abundant in forgiveness, especially as the merciful only shall find mercy. See the note on Mat 5:7, and on Mat 6:14, Mat 6:15 (note). The sum seventy times seven makes four hundred and ninety.

J.C. Ryle

1816–1900

Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew (1856)

In these verses the Lord Jesus deals with a deeply important subject, the forgiveness of injuries. We live in a wicked world, and it is vain to expect that we can escape ill-treatment, however carefully we may behave. To know how to conduct ourselves when we are ill-treated is of great moment to our souls. In the first place, the Lord Jesus lays it down as a general rule that we ought to forgive others to the uttermost. Peter put the question, “How oft shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Till seven times?”

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven--that is, so long as it shall be needed and sought: you are never to come to the point of refusing forgiveness sincerely asked.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

13 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Λέγει	Legei	Says	G3004 →
αὐτῷ	autō	to him	G846 →
ὁ	ho	<the>	G3588 →
Ἰησοῦς·	Iēsous	Jesus;	G2424 →
οὐ	ou	Not	G3756 →
λέγω	legō	I say	G3004 →
σοι	soi	to you	G4771 →
ἕως	he'ōs	up to	G2193 →
ἑπτάκις	heptakis	seven times	G2034 →
ἀλλ᾽	all᾽	but	G235 →
ἕως	he'ōs	up to	G2193 →
ἑβδομηκοντάκις	hebdomēkontakis	seventy times	G1441 →
ἑπτά.¶	hepta	seven!	G2033 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Colossians 3:13
Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
leads to
- Ephesians 4:32
  Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Matthew 6:14–15
  For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Mark 11:25
  And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”
- James 2:13
  For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- Ephesians 4:2
  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Through
Ephesians 4:31
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.
leads to
- Colossians 3:8
  But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
- Ecclesiastes 7:9
  Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.
Through
Mark 11:25
And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”
leads to
- Colossians 3:13
  Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

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About Matthew

John the Baptist Baptizes Jesus — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Matthew: the study guide →Read chapter 18 →The featured study →

Forgiveness
Jesus removes any ceiling on how many times a disciple must forgive

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01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Matthew

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Matthew