Kingdom Living - Forgiven To Forgive - Unlimited Forgiveness - The 70 X 7 Principle - Matthew 18.21-35 Series

2025.07.27 Sermon Notes. KINGDOM LIVING. FORGIVEN TO FORGIVE. MATTHEW 18.21-35

Unlimited Forgiveness - The 70 x 7 Principle

William Akehurst, HSWC

SCRIPTURES: Matthew 18:21-35, Daniel 9:24, 1 Corinthians 13:5,

Psalm 103:12, 1 Corinthians 11:24, Isaiah 53:5, Mark 11:25-26, Romans 3:10, Luke 6:36

INTRODUCTION: In Matthew 18, Jesus gives one of the clearest teachings on how to live as His disciples in community with one another. This chapter is about the daily walk of discipleship: humility, accountability, restoration, and forgiveness.

REVIEW of Matthew 18. Five Characteristics of Kingdom Living.

KINGDOM LIVING IS:

1. Humility is the mark of greatness in the Kingdom.

Humbling yourself like a child.

2. Don’t cause others to stumble - especially the vulnerable.

Dealing seriously with sin, Live set apart.

3. Pursue the lost with compassion and care.

Seeking and restoring the wandering, Pursue the one.

4. Rebuke and restore your brother/sister in love.

Resolving conflict God’s way, with love.

Today as we continue with vs. 21 with our last point.

5. Forgive without limits – Forgive extravagantly as God has forgiven you.

And will take a closer look at forgiveness, and the necessity of extending mercy from the heart, because of the mercy we’ve received from God.

BIG IDEA: As recipients of God’s limitless mercy, we are called to extend the same forgiveness to others from the heart. Forgiveness is not optional - it is essential to kingdom living. Forgive without limits – Forgive extravagantly as God has forgiven you

Matthew 18 - PART 2 FORGIVENESS WITHOUT LIMITS - The 70 x 7 Principle

FORGIVE AS YOU’VE BEEN FORGIVEN – NO LIMITS

THE PARABLE OF THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT (vv. 21–35)

I. PETER’S QUESTION AND JESUS’ RADICAL RESPONSE (vv. 21–22)

PART 1 – THE QUESTION OF FORGIVENESS (vv. 21-22)

21 Then Peter came to Him and 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.

Forgiveness is hard. Especially when you’ve been deeply hurt, repeatedly wronged, or feel the offense is beyond repair.

Peter asks, “How many times shall I forgive? Seven times?” vs 21

Jesus answers: “Seventy times seven.” vs. 22

Peter’s attempt at generosity: “Up to seven times?”

• Peter, always bold and curious, comes to Jesus in Matthew 18:21 and asks a question we’ve all wrestled with:

• “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

• Peter thought he was being generous. The rabbis of the time taught that forgiving up to three times was sufficient. So Peter doubles it and adds one. But Jesus’ response is shocking:

•

Jesus’ answer: “Seventy times seven” (490 times)

• Not literal, but symbolic of limitless forgiveness.

• “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

• That’s 490 times—not a literal limit, but a call to limitless, habitual forgiveness. Forgiveness is not about counting—it's about character. And then, Jesus tells a parable that helps us see the heart of the Father, and how we’re to reflect it.

• Gematria note: 490 = value of “tamim” (????) = complete, perfect (used of sacrificial lambs, blamelessness).

• Forgiveness is to be complete, continuous, and Christ-like.

The number 490 (70×7) is significant in Scripture.

It ties to Daniel’s prophecy of 70 weeks (Daniel 9:24), pointing to the completion of atonement.

The Hebrew word “tamim” (????), meaning complete, blameless, or perfect, has the gematria value of 490.

Jesus is pointing to a complete and perfect forgiveness—the kind He offers us.

SIDE THOUGHTS: What Is the Biblical Significance of 490?

Not a Literal Limit, But a Heart Posture

Jesus wasn't saying, “Keep track until you hit 490, then stop forgiving.”

He was using hyperbole (intentional exaggeration) to say:

“Forgiveness must be unlimited, unconditional, and continual.”

Peter thought 7 was generous (Jewish tradition typically suggested 3 times).

Jesus multiplied that tenfold to underscore the limitless mercy of the Kingdom.

THE FULLNESS OF FORGIVENESS — 70 x 7 and THE BREAD OF LIFE

Jesus doesn’t randomly pick 70×7 = 490. This number is:

• Prophetic – Found in Daniel 9, referring to 490 years until Messiah comes to “finish transgression, put an end to sin, and atone for iniquity.”

• Complete – Symbolizing divine, unending forgiveness.

490 in Prophecy – Daniel 9:24

In the Old Testament, the number 490 is highly significant prophetically.

Daniel 9:24 - “Seventy weeks are determined for your people...”

Here, "seventy weeks" = 70 × 7 years = 490 years

God revealed to Daniel a prophetic period of mercy and restoration for Israel to finish transgression, bring in everlasting righteousness, and anoint the Most Holy (i.e., pointing to the coming of Christ).