By Douglas K. Wilson, Ph. D.
Professor of Biblical Studies, University of Mobile
FORGIVENESS
Matthew 18:21–35
As I write this article, MLB spring training is in full swing. When the hitter is at home plate, it is the pitcher’s job (along with his teammates) to make sure the hitter doesn’t reach first base. As the song says, “For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out at the old ball game.” Of course, there are exceptions to the third strike, with foul balls. That’s why the hitter keeps swinging the bat.
At times, we as Christians approach offenses against us like we would the batter with strikes. We might give our offender a second or third chance to treat us with respect, but then we’re done with him.
Sometimes, our limit is two offenses: “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” We attempt to justify our unforgiveness as righteous indignation. Jesus clearly teaches Peter — and us — that He expects us to forgive with the measure that God has forgiven us.
In the three passages preceding our focus here, Matthew 18 records Jesus’ warning about causing offense, a parable about rescuing the stray sheep and instructions about restoring a believer who repents. This final passage provides context for Peter’s question about forgiveness.
Question of Forgiveness (21–22)
Seven times? Peter had heard Jesus teach on forgiveness previously (Matt. 6:12, 14–15), emphasizing that believers must forgive. Jesus had just instructed His disciples about restoring a repentant brother within the church (18:15–17).
A follow-up question was certainly in order, especially from a man like Peter who was full of questions. Was the Master expecting the disciples to forgive seven times?
Seventy-seven times? Carefully read the CSB footnotes, and one will discover that there are two possible translations to Jesus’ response. The footnote for verse 22 reads, “Or 77 times.” If this is the correct translation, Jesus was countering the vengeance mentality recorded in Genesis 4:24 — “If Cain is to be avenged seven times over, then for Lamech it will be 77 times!”
Four hundred and ninety times? Jesus was not teaching us to keep a running list of offenses. Instead, Jesus was instructing us to forgive completely. Seven is a number of completeness, as in the creation account. Ten is also a number of completion, as with the Ten Commandments.
Completeness times completeness times completeness is the measure of forgiveness Jesus tells us to offer.
Compassionate King (23–27)
Jesus illustrated His instruction with a story of a king and his subjects. Servant One owed the king 10,000 talents — that is, 20 years’ wages times 10,000. He begged the king to give him time, and he would pay it back. Instead, the king forgave his debt.
Unforgiving Servant (28–35)
Servant One found Servant Two, a man who owed him 20 denarii. For context, Servant One owed 200,000 years’ wages, and Servant Two owed 20 days’ wages. Servant One heard the same plea that he had given the king (vv. 26, 29), yet he was unwilling to forgive this comparably small debt.
Instead, he had Servant Two arrested and placed in debtors prison. The king revoked the pardon, and Servant One went to prison.
When the Father forgives our sin, He pardons us fully. If we are unwilling to forgive our brothers and sisters for their small offenses against us, how can we claim to have received full pardon for our sin debt and dishonor against God?
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