
Matthew 18:21-36
21 Then coming near to Him, Peter said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?
22 Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, Up to seven times, but, Up to seventy times seven.
23 Because of this the kingdom of Heaven has been compared to a man, a king, who desired to take account with his slaves.
Comment
Jesus in verse 22 says up to seventy times seven ….is the amount of times to forgive your brother…. because of this the kingdom of heaven is being compared to a man, a king that wanted to take into account of his slaves. This ability to forgive your brother seventy times seven must be reflective of the similar nature of those in the kingdom of heaven since Jesus is making a comparison to the kingdom of heaven by an example on earth.
Take note: this king, this man does not have the ability to know the heart and or change the heart but only deals with the outward appearance and actions of men and forgives them on that basis.
Note: the wicked slave was never regenerated… didn’t love his brother 1 John 2:10,
1 John 4:21, 1 John 3:14 . Luke 7:47 The slave did not love much because he was forgiven much. He would not forgive even though he was forgiven much. There was no sign that he was ever regenerated unto belief of the Gospel of Christ.
John 3:3-8 The point of the parable …there won’t be any unregenerate unbelieving wicked slaves in the kingdom of heaven that will not have a new heart and spirit comparatively that would forgive his brother seventy times seven.
24 And he having begun to take account, one debtor of ten thousand talents was brought near to him.
25 But he not having any to repay, the lord of him commanded him to be sold, also his wife and children, and all things, as much as he had, and to be repaid.
26 Therefore having fallen down, the slave bowed the knee to him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay all to you.
27 And being filled with pity, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the loan.
28 But having gone out, that slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii. And seizing him, he choked him, saying, Pay me whatever you owe.
29 Then having fallen down at his feet, his fellow slave begged him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will repay all to you.
30 But he would not, but having gone away he threw him into prison until he should pay back the amount owing.
31 But his fellow slaves, seeing the things happening, they were greatly grieved. And having come they reported to their lord all the things happening.
32 Then having called him near, his lord said to him, Wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt, since you begged me.
Comment
The True Lord of Lords and King of Kings knows his sheep and his sheep hear his voice and he gives them eternal life. This slave was never regenerated with a new heart and spirit. He never heard his voice and never followed him and was never given eternal life.
33 Ought you not also to have mercy on your fellow slave, as I also had mercy?
Comment
The wicked slave ought to have had mercy on his fellow slave because he was forgiven much but he was unregenerate and consequently couldn’t live up to what he ought to do because this lord, a man was unable to know the heart and couldn’t change his heart and forgave based on outward appearance.
34 And being angry, his lord gave him over to the tormentors until he pay back all that debt to him.
35 So also My heavenly Father will do to you unless each of you from your hearts forgive his brother their deviations.
Comment
Jesus said unless you forgive your brother from your hearts His Heavenly Father will do to you as the wicked slave. From scripture we know except you be given by the Lord a new heart and a new spirit you will not be able to forgive your brother seventy times seven…. only the ones with regenerate hearts by the true Lord will be able from the heart to forgive much and consequently will enter into the kingdom of heaven. The True Lord must regenerate the spiritually dead.
Scripture
John 3:3-8, Ezekiel 36:26, John 6:44, John 6:37-40,
1 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 8:29-39,Ephesians 2:8-10, John 10:14, Ezekiel 11:19, John 10:26, 27,28,29, Ephesians 1:1-14
Comments, Highlights, Italics, Parentheses, Underlining added
Website address below KJ3 Literal Translation online by Jay P. Green
Considering regenerated brothers does forgiveness have to be asked for first from the offender? In our discussions we agreed it would have to be asked for first by the offender.
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Yes, we agreed and I still hold that view. What would be the point of forgiving someone that didn’t want forgiveness?
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Would God forgive an unrepentant sinner that hadn’t changed his mind from believing a False Gospel ? No
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is there a significance of forgiving 77 times?
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If you mean the numbers 70 times 7 .. 490 it probably has significance; but I hadn’t yet thought about it
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