How many times do we forgive?

Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

Does anyone see a parable here??

I see a lesson he’s teaching about his kingdom in the parable that follows that statement

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

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.


So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their Lord all that was done. Then his Lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his Lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.


So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:22-35‬ ‭

On the surface we see a story about forgiveness but it isnt endless as many say. This story is directed at Israel. The Lord was always fulfilling the writing of the prophets. Our Lord just didn't pick these numbers without meaning!

Daniel 9:24 “Seventy weeks of years ( 70 X 7 ) are decreed concerning your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place

Jesus was talking to Peter, and then it was recorded in the scripture so it is addressed to the Church.
He was not alluding to Daniel, He was answering Peter. Peter ask how many times and said up to seven. JESUS then answered Peter using is number seven and making a hyperbole of it saying, 70 x 7.
See what is written.
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:21‭-‬22 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.18.21-22.NKJV

There is no call to induct further meaning into the text than what is written. It simply means that as often as one sins forgive them.

The thing of it is, if a person is truely repentant and truly the recipient of forgiveness He can not hold anything against another. Its not possible, its only hypocrisy to be givem mercy and not deal mercifully with others.

How many times must we forgive????????? I'd suggest that a good common sense rule is to forgive others as many times as we ask and hope for God to forgive us our transgressions/sins/offenses against Him.

And that's many/many/many times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Understand the loving concept behind forgiveness. When we truly forgive others, we're not doing them a favor. Instead we are healing ourselves by taking away the sting, hatred, and the chains of things, offenses against us, that are making us bitter and miserable.

Forgiving doesn't mean you have to be pals with those who wronged you. Simply say a prayer for them and move on with your life.

BTW, how often do we sin against God and ask and expect His forgiveness?

The biblical significance of “70 times 7” is unlimited forgiveness. That means no matter how many times somebody hurts you. It would be best if you forgave endlessly. God calls us to forgive without limit. That's what God does.

In regard to forgiveness of sins, I find that Christians have a difficult time reconciling the following verses with the teaching that we are to forgive everyone all the time:

“And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

”Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.15You too should beware of him, for he has vigorously opposed our message.”

“But as for me, brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated. 12 I wish that those who are troubling you would even emasculate themselves.”

It’s due to several reasons: 1) The people were taught a gospel of conciliation and not one of reconciliation so they accept a lower standard of being than that of oneness with God. 2) They lack the understanding of representation, they are merely followers of Christ and not the flesh and bones of the Son, His Body. Being followers of a philosopher is a Roman ideal and was introduced to the people through the Roman church. Do we really believe Caesar would have permitted the State Religion (Christianity) to teach that the people have a higher authority than the State itself? This way of thinking still pervades the majority of pews.

agreed but what happens if we don’t forgive according to the lord ?

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭11:25-26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“
“but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬


“Then his Lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his Lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:32-35‬ ‭

note these teachings are for Gods children to accept , donyou see how it’s not just best if we forgive it’s required that we forgive ?

If we want to know the truth about God we have to get away from people explaining why Jesus had it wrong and didn’t underrrsnd about salvstion and Gods children and start hearing what our lord said then we’ll know the truth about all these matters
“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
‭‭John‬ ‭18:37‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We can say we don’t have to forgive but then we’ve made Jesus into a liar when he said what he said

Each number can be represented by a Hebrew letter which each have a meaning in itself. The tenth letter is the smallest Hebrew letter, which is representative of humility and also a picture of the hand. And the seventh letter is the zayin, the gematria for the word "zayin" is the same for the Hebrew word for "understanding"... anyway, there's an entire treasury of wealth of information in each number' association with each letter.
I see the reference's meaning as, "as long as it is within your power to forgive at any given time."
And, btw, they both signify completeness.

Ive heard this taught before..i agree...very true. We are to forgive untill his return. Jesus will straighten the matters out.

I dont think God has unlimited forgiveness. There are consequence to repeat affenders, the Lord is long suffering but he says to repent. What if someone doesnt repent and keeps on offending? We are not everyones door mat.
This is in reguad to personal offences...not related to persecution.

Always forgive, but for repeated or serious offenders, create boundaries that limit the impact of their actions.

No, but Jesus does deliberate exaggeration to emphasize what his prayer says that we are to always forgive people, which doesn't necessarily reconciliation with them. From our end, we should be willing, but being reconciled with them is up to them.

Make forgiveness of others a part of your life as forgiveness has been given to you in this life.... daily.

7 x's 70 x's 700 x's 7,000 x's 70,000 x's 700,000 x's 7,000,000, etc!!!

We are the ones that suffer when we refuse to forgive.
Remember all He did for us while we were yet sinners with nothing to offer Him.
Isaiah 38:17
“Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.”

I always consider this scripture in Matthew 13

34 All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophets

“I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”

I remeber one sermon, the minister said, you can't count up to 490 transgressions, and say, now look out!

We should not be counting.

Every time we say the Lords prayer, we tell God what to do. You forgive me, in the same way I forgive others