English Standard Version
Matthew 18:21
21Then 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?"
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?”
- 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?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
Context of Matthew 18:21
19Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." 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?" 22Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
Read all of Matthew 18Matthew 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
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
In the dictionaries
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
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