Matthew 18:21

Matthew 18:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
• New International Version (NIV)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?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"
• 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?”

Context of Matthew 18:21

19Two people may agree together to ask God for something. If they agree like that, then my Father in heaven will give them what they ask for. 20Two or more people may meet together because they believe in me. If they do that, I will be there with them.’ Then Peter came to talk to Jesus. He asked, ‘Lord, if my friend does wrong things against me many times, how many times should I forgive him? Must I forgive him as many as seven times for the wrong things that he has done against me?’ 22Jesus replied, ‘I do not say only seven times. I say you should forgive him 77 times!’ 23Jesus then said, ‘I will tell you a story to show what the kingdom of heaven is like. A king wanted to check how much money his servants should give to him because of their debts.

Matthew 18:21 word by word

Τότε προσελθὼν ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν αὐτῷ· κύριε, ποσάκις ἁμαρτήσει εἰς ἐμὲ ὁ ἀδελφός μου καὶ ἀφήσω αὐτῷ; ἕως ἑπτάκις;¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thenτότεtote · thenG5119
• cameπροσέρχομαιproserchomai · to come near/agreeG4334
• Peterὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• PeterΠέτροςPetros · PeterG4074
• to himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• how oftποσάκιςposakis · how often!G4212
• shallἁμαρτάνωhamartanō · to sinG264
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• brotherἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• againstεἰςeis · towardG1519
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• I forgiveἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: forgiveG863
• tillἕωςheōs · untilG2193
• seven timesἑπτάκιςheptakis · seven timesG2034

Cross-references for Matthew 18:21

• Matthew 18:15Jesus said, ‘If your Christian friend has done something wrong against you, you must go and speak to him. When you are alone with him, tell him what he has done that is wrong. He may agree with what you say. If he does, then you can call him your friend again.
• Luke 17:3Be careful how you live. If your Christian brother does something wrong, speak to him. Tell him that he has done a bad thing. He may say, “I am sorry for what I did. I will not do it again.” If he says that, you must forgive him.

Commentaries on Matthew 18:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Till 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 Matthew 18:22. Revenge is natural to man, i.e…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Then came Peter … - The mention of the duty Matthew 18:15 of seeing a brother when he had offended us, implying that it was a duty to forgive him, led Peter to ask how often this was to be done. Forgive him - To forgive is to treat as though the offence was not committed - to declare that we will not harbor malice or treat unkindly, but that the matter shall be buried and forgotten.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-35Verses 21-35 Though we live wholly on mercy and forgiveness, we are backward to forgive the offences of our brethren. This parable shows how much provocation God has from his family on earth, and how untoward his servants are. There are three things in the parable: 1. The master's 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-35Peter thought forgiving seven times was generous, but Jesus surprised him. A disciple should graciously forgive like God does, without limits and freely (see Matthew 18:10–14). If someone does not forgive in this way, it shows they have not experienced God's forgiveness for themselves (18:35; see 6:12).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?--In the recent dispute, Peter had probably been an object of special envy, and his forwardness in continually answering for all the rest would likely be cast up to him--and if so, probably by Judas--notwithstanding his Master's commendations. And as such insinuations were perhaps made once and again, he wished to know how often and how long he was to…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 18:21

• Charitableness
• Commandments
• Family
• Forgiveness
• Fraternity
• Jesus, the Christ
• Peter

In the dictionaries

• Peter
• Peter, Simon Peter, Cephas
• Gain
• Owe
• Patience
• Seven
• Debt; Debtor
• Forgiveness
• How
• Intercession

Commentaries on Matthew 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings