Peter asks if forgiving seven times is appropriate, and Jesus responds “not seven times, but seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22). On one level, this number is wordplay—Jesus is taking the number that Peter gave and one-upping it, changing Peter's expectations.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that we must forgive others to be forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15) and that the merciful shall receive mercy (Matthew 5:7). Later, Matthew 18:21-22 says that we are to forgive someone “seventy-seven times” (or, in many translations, “seventy times seven,” which is 490 times).
God's forgiveness is limitless and available to all people.
Many commentaries understand this to mean that Jesus was telling Peter that he should forgive his brother a limitless number of times. There is poetry for the soul in these passages: there is a small, determined amount of vengeance, but limitless Divine forgiveness.
Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times'. Matthew 18:21-22. This passage emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and highlights the potential consequences for failing to embody this virtue.
“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). There is no limit to how many times we are willing to forgive someone who seeks forgiveness, just as there is no limit to how many times God will forgive us.
I want to assure you that for all those in Christ, the answer to this question is a resounding "Yes!" Yes, God will forgive all of your sins. Even the ones that have plagued you the longest and consumed you the most. God's forgiveness does not depend in the slightest degree on what you do or not do.
With this declaration, Alma identified for Corianton the three most abominable sins in the sight of God: (1) denying the Holy Ghost, (2) shedding innocent blood, and (3) committing sexual sin. Adultery was third to murder and the sin against the Holy Ghost as abominable sins.
Repentance is always available, even if you've made the same mistake again. The Lord has said, “As often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me” (Mosiah 26:30). Be one of “His people,” and return to the Lord whenever you stray. Also, talk to your parents and your bishop.
Matthew 18:21-35 New King James Version (NKJV)
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.
In Matthew 5:44 Jesus says, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
The number 490 is also the value of the Hebrew phrase “Let your heart be perfect” (1 Kings 8:61 KJV). Forgiving helps make us complete, and it is key to perfecting our hearts before the Lord. But there are some even deeper connections.
There are no 'tricks' to reconciliation. All you do is get your heart right and ask Him for the 'want to' for that. The Bible says that God will always forgive our sins every time we ask him to, which is unlimited forgiveness.
For Jesus to say “77,” then, would be to exaggerate this standard of perfection – a metaphorical way of saying “forgive until you reach perfect perfection.” In essence, Jesus was saying “forgive to infinity.” Jesus' reference to 77 also brings to mind the words of Lamech in Genesis 4:23-24 – a ruthless man who lived ...
Matthew 18: 21-22 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
You either believe in Christ for forgiveness and salvation or you don't. The only unforgivable sin is rejecting Jesus Christ for salvation. The sin of denying the Holy Ghost, a sin that cannot be forgiven. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men, Matt.
Pride, also known as hubris (from Ancient Greek ὕβρις) or futility, is considered the original and worst of the seven deadly sins on almost every list, the most demonic. It is also thought to be the source of the other capital sins. Pride is the opposite of humility.
Mark 3:28-30: “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” – for they were saying, 'He has an unclean spirit. '”
According to Matthew 6:14-15, a person who doesn't forgive others will not be forgiven by God. In the verses, Jesus states: "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
If a woman has been involved in abortion, God does not require that she spend the rest of her life walking around with a red “A” on her chest. He does require that she repent of her sin and come to Him for the cleansing of forgiveness. When God forgives us, we are forgiven. When God cleanses us, we are made clean.
There are two things to remember here: (1) God's mercy is indeed infinite, and (2) true repentance means forsaking your sins. On the one hand, because of the infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ, repentance is available to everyone, even those who have made the same mistakes many times.
Jesus wants His followers to get in the habit of forgiving those who ask for forgiveness that it becomes second nature. There is no limit to how many times we are willing to forgive someone who seeks forgiveness. This is what Jesus was saying.
And it bears repeating, for those who accept Christ as Lord and Savior, the punishment for sin is not administered by God the Father on his children. God no longer punishes us for our sin; Jesus took that punishment. God does however discipline us for sin.
If you do not say, “No” to temptation, you will yield to the sin. In the process of time, you will slowly lose control of the ability to say, “No.” Before, you had power over the sin. As you continue to yield to the temptation, it will exercise power over you. You began to develop sinful habits.