SEV Biblia, Chapter 18:21
¶ Entonces Pedro, llegndose a l, dijo: Seor, ¿cuntas veces perdonar a mi hermano que pecare contra mí? ¿Hasta siete?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:21
Verse 21. Till seven times?] Though seven was a number of perfection among the Hebrews, and often meant much more than the units in it imply, yet it is evident that Peter uses it here in its plain literal sense, as our Lord's words sufficiently testify. It was a maxim among the Jews never to forgive more than thrice: Peter enlarges this charity more than one half; and our Lord makes even his enlargement septuple, see ver. 22. Revenge is natural to man, i.e. man is naturally a vindictive being, and, in consequence, nothing is more difficult to him than forgiveness of injuries.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 21. Then came Peter unto him , etc.] Having heard and observed the rules Christ gave concerning offences and brotherly reproofs, he drew near to Christ, and put this question to him: and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him ? He instances in a brother, because it was such an one Christ had been speaking of; he makes no doubt of its being his duty to forgive him upon his repentance, and acknowledgment, but wanted to be reformed, how often this was to be done, and asks, whether until seven times ? Which was, as he might think, a large number; and especially, since it was double the number of times, that the Jewish doctors set for forgiveness: for thus they say f1015 , A man that commits a sin, the first time they pardon him; the second time they pardon him; the third time they pardon him: the fourth time they do not pardon, according to ( Amos 2:6, Job 33:29).
Again, he that says I have sinned, and I repent, they forgive him unto three times, and no more f1016 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 21-35 - Though we live wholly on mercy and forgiveness, we are backward to forgive the offences of our brethren. This parable shows how muc provocation God has from his family on earth, and how untoward his servants are. There are three things in the parable: 1. The master' wonderful clemency. The debt of sin is so great, that we are not able to pay it. See here what every sin deserves; this is the wages of sin to be sold as a slave. It is the folly of many who are under stron convictions of their sins, to fancy they can make God satisfaction for the wrong they have done him. 2. The servant's unreasonable severit toward his fellow-servant, notwithstanding his lord's clemency towar him. Not that we may make light of wronging our neighbour, for that is also a sin against God; but we should not aggravate our neighbour' wronging us, nor study revenge. Let our complaints, both of the wickedness of the wicked, and of the afflictions of the afflicted, be brought to God, and left with him. 3. The master reproved his servant' cruelty. The greatness of sin magnifies the riches of pardoning mercy and the comfortable sense of pardoning mercy, does much to dispose ou hearts to forgive our brethren. We are not to suppose that God actuall forgives men, and afterwards reckons their guilt to them to condem them; but this latter part of the parable shows the false conclusion many draw as to their sins being pardoned, though their after-conduc shows that they never entered into the spirit, or experienced the sanctifying grace of the gospel. We do not forgive our offendin brother aright, if we do not forgive from the heart. Yet this is no enough; we must seek the welfare even of those who offend us. Ho justly will those be condemned, who, though they bear the Christia name, persist in unmerciful treatment of their brethren! The humble sinner relies only on free, abounding mercy, through the ransom of the death of Christ. Let us seek more and more for the renewing grace of God, to teach us to forgive others as we hope for forgiveness from him __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
τοτε 5119 ADV προσελθων 4334 5631 V-2AAP-NSM αυτω 846 P-DSM ο 3588 T-NSM πετρος 4074 N-NSM ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S κυριε 2962 N-VSM ποσακις 4212 ADV αμαρτησει 264 5692 V-FAI-3S εις 1519 PREP εμε 1691 P-1AS ο 3588 T-NSM αδελφος 80 N-NSM μου 3450 P-1GS και 2532 CONJ αφησω 863 5692 V-FAI-1S αυτω 846 P-DSM εως 2193 CONJ επτακις 2034 ADV
Robertson's NT Word Studies
18:21 {Until seven times?} (hews heptakis?) Peter thought that he was generous as the Jewish rule was three times (#Am 1:6). His question goes back to verse #15. "Against me" is genuine here. "The man who asks such a question does not really know what forgiveness means" (Plummer).
