What is the meaning of Matthew 18:21? Then Peter came to Jesus - The setting follows Jesus’ teaching on restoring a sinning believer (Matthew 18:15-20). Peter steps forward, modeling the right instinct: take questions straight to Christ. - His approach signals humility and trust, echoing John 6:68—“Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life”. - Coming to Jesus first invites the grace promised in Hebrews 4:16 and the wisdom urged in James 1:5. and asked, "Lord" - Calling Jesus “Lord” confesses His divine authority (Matthew 16:16). - Submission to that authority is essential; Luke 6:46 warns against merely mouthing “Lord” while ignoring His commands. - Peter’s address therefore frames the entire question as a desire to obey, not to debate. how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? - “Brother” points to fellow believers; relational closeness makes forgiveness both necessary and challenging (Galatians 6:1; 1 John 3:14). - Jesus has already tied our own forgiveness to forgiving others: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14). - Forgiveness is an ongoing discipline, not a one-time event. Luke 17:3-4 portrays repetitive repentance met by repetitive pardon. - The command in Ephesians 4:32—“forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you”—sets the standard: imitate God’s grace. Up to seven times?" - Rabbinic thought often spoke of three strikes; Peter more than doubles that, choosing a number linked with completeness (Genesis 2:2-3; Proverbs 24:16). - Yet counting at all misses the heart of God. Jesus’ immediate reply in verse 22—“not seven times, but seventy-seven times”—removes the ledger. - This limitless call mirrors Psalm 103:10-12, where God “removes our sins as far as the east is from the west,” and overturns the spirit of vengeance in Genesis 4:24. - The message: believers forgive without calculating, because God’s grace toward them is beyond calculation. summary Matthew 18:21 pictures a disciple eager to obey yet still measuring mercy. Peter’s respectful question highlights the tension between human instinct to keep score and Christ’s command to keep forgiving. By bringing the issue to Jesus, he models dependence on the Lord’s wisdom. The verse, together with Jesus’ answer, teaches that forgiveness in God’s family is meant to be as boundless as the grace we ourselves receive. |
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