What does Matthew 18:22 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 18:22 captures Jesus's response to Peter's question about forgiveness.

Peter asks if forgiving someone seven times is sufficient, to which Jesus replies not just seven times, but "seventy times seven." The phrase "seventy times seven" is not meant to set a literal number of times one should forgive, but to emphasize the idea of boundless forgiveness.

The deeper meaning here is that forgiveness should not be limited or counted.

Jesus is teaching that forgiveness should be offered generously and without keeping score, as a reflection of the boundless forgiveness God offers humanity.

Historical Context

This verse is part of a conversation between Jesus and His disciples in the Gospel of Matthew, which falls into the genre of a wisdom teaching.

In Jewish tradition, the number seven often represented completeness or perfection, and Peter's offer to forgive seven times could have been seen as generous.

However, Jesus expands on this, pushing the boundaries to encourage a forgiveness that is not just complete, but superabundantly so.

This teaching would have challenged the disciples' and early Christians' understanding of forgiveness in their own cultural context, which was governed by specific laws and often limited in scope.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, Matthew 18:22 reflects several key ideas:

• Divine Forgiveness: This verse illustrates God's own approach to forgiveness, which is infinite and unwavering.
• Moral Obligation: It also imposes an ethical requirement on Christians to forgive in a manner reflecting God's forgiveness.
• Community Cohesion: By advocating for boundless forgiveness, Jesus is promoting peace and reconciliation within the community, which is essential for a unified Church.

Different denominations interpret this passage in light of their focus on soteriology (doctrine of salvation), ecclesiology (doctrine of the church), and ethics.

Practical Applications

The principle taught in Matthew 18:22 can be applied in various ways:

• Interpersonal Relationships: Encouraging individuals to release grudges and continuously offer forgiveness to those who wrong them, fostering healthier relationships.
• Conflicts Resolution: In mediation and peacemaking efforts, this teaching can guide parties toward reconciliation.
• Personal Development: Emphasizing the practice of forgiveness as a discipline that can lead to personal growth, emotional healing, and spiritual maturity.

Cross-References

• Luke 17:4: "And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him."
• Colossians 3:13: "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."
• Ephesians 4:32: "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for "until" is "ἕως" (heōs), which can imply "up to" or "even to." The word for "seventy" is "ἑβδομηκοντάκις" (hebdomēkontakis), and "seven" is "ἑπτά" (hepta).

Jesus's use of hepta in conjunction with hebdomēkontakis, "seventy times seven," would have been heard not as a specific number (490) but as a symbolic figure representing an unlimited amount of times, much like using the term "a million" in English to suggest a vast, uncountable quantity.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, numbers often had symbolic meanings.

For example, in Babylonian and Sumerian mythologies, numbers were used to convey messages about divine order.

In the context of Jewish culture, the number seven had special significance as noted in the creation narrative and the establishment of the Sabbath.

By expanding on this cultural understanding, Jesus reinterprets the concept of "completeness" in the act of forgiveness.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific community, particularly in the field of psychology, recognizes the benefits of forgiveness on mental and physical health. Studies have shown that forgiveness can lead to lower stress levels, reduced risk of heart disease, and improved mental health.

While the verse itself is not scientific, its teachings align with modern scientific understandings of the positive effects of forgiveness on well-being.

Commentaries

Scholars and theologians have offered various interpretations of Matthew 18:22:

• John Calvin: Suggested that the "seventy times seven" signifies that we should forgive our brothers without end.
• William Barclay: Highlighted that Jesus did not mean that we should count up to 490 and then stop; he meant that forgiveness is not a matter of book-keeping but a matter of the heart.
• **D.A.

Carson**: Thinks that Jesus insists on unlimited forgiveness, which reflects the limitless forgiveness of God.

Each of these commentaries reinforces the understanding that forgiveness should not be quantified and that the virtue lies in its limitless nature.