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).
CONNECT THE DOTS
In both Daniel 9 and Matthew 18, the number 490 represents a time of grace, patience, and mercy before judgment.
Symbol of Complete Forgiveness and Restoration
In biblical numerology:
• 7 is the number of completion/perfection (God’s rest on the 7th day).
• 70 amplifies the idea of totality or full measure.
• So 70 × 7 (490) = complete forgiveness to the fullest extent.
SPIRITUAL INSIGHT
By saying “seventy times seven,” Jesus is saying:
“Let your forgiveness reflect the nature of God Himself - abundant, merciful, and not keeping count of wrongs.”
Compare with:
• 1 Corinthians 13:5 – Love “keeps no record of wrongs.”
• Psalm 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
HEBREW WORD STUDY: BETH LECHEM
Jesus, the Messiah foretold in Daniel’s prophecy, was born in Bethlehem —
????? ?????? (Beth-Lechem) = “House of Bread” = 490 in Hebrew gematria.
He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35), broken for us.
John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
At Passover, Jesus took matzah - unleavened, pierced, striped, broken - and said:
“This is My body… broken for you.”
1 Corinthians 11:24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Matzah: (The Bread)
Unleavened = sinless
Striped & pierced = Isaiah 53:5 – “By His stripes we are healed”
Broken = His sacrificial death
Jesus fulfilled the 490 by becoming the very Bread of Forgiveness.
When you forgive others, you are offering the same bread Christ gave to you.
APPLICATION:
Forgiveness isn’t about math (70x7=490) - it’s about mercy.
• Keep forgiving.
• Don’t tally offenses.
• Let your forgiveness flow from how God has forgiven you.
POINT: If God gave you 490 chances, shouldn't you give your brother the same?
BACK TO ON TRACK:
Peter’s question leads to Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant.
PART 2 - FORGIVE AS YOU’VE BEEN FORGIVEN - UNLIMITED MERCY
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (vv. 23–35)
II. THE KING’S MERCY (vv. 23–27)
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
The servant’s debt: 10,000 talents = an unpayable debt, an astronomical debt—by today’s standards…
• It's like owing millions or even billions of dollars.
• It's unpayable, just like our sin debt before God.
The servant begs:
The plea: “Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.” But he never could.
The king’s compassion: Forgave him completely and freely
The king was moved with compassion, releases him, and forgives the entire debt.
This is the gospel.
We owed a debt we could never repay.
But God, rich in mercy, sent Jesus - the Bread of Life from Bethlehem, broken like matzah at Passover - to pay it all.
APPLICATION: God has forgiven our massive, eternal debt through Christ.
III. THE SERVANT’S HARSHNESS (vv. 28–30)
28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.
Refused the same mercy he received
Fellow servant’s debt: The forgiven servant leaves and immediately finds a fellow servant who owes him 100 denarii = about 3 months’ wages. (Small in comparison)
He seizes and chokes him: Violent, merciless, hypocritical
Instead of showing the same mercy, he grabs him by the throat and demands repayment.
NO MERCY: When the fellow servant begs using the exact same words, the first servant shows no mercy and has him thrown into prison.
REFLECTIONS: How quick we are to forget what we’ve been forgiven!
How often do we hold grudges, demand apologies, or cut people off because they owe us a “small debt”?
This is the heart of hypocrisy: to receive grace and refuse to give it.
APPLICATION: How do we treat others when they sin against us?
Are we holding debts God has already canceled?
IV. THE JUDGMENT OF THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT (vv. 31–34)
31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
That same forgiven servant refuses to forgive someone who owes him a tiny debt.
• Fellow servants were grieved witnessing the injustice and reported to the king.
The king’s righteous anger:
The king summons the man and says:
• Called him wicked - “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?” v. 33
• Delivered him to the torturers (jailers, tormentors)
Then, the master delivers him to the torturers—a symbolic image of internal torment, guilt, bitterness, and the consequences of unforgiveness.
• Reinstated the debt
• Unforgiveness doesn’t just hurt others-it tortures you.
Bitterness is a prison, and the key is in your hand.
SPIRITUAL LESSON: Unforgiveness enslaves us and can forfeit peace, fellowship, and blessing.
POINT: God expects us to extend the forgiveness we have received.
Mark 11:25-26 25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Luke 6:36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
LESSON:
• Unforgiveness chains us to the past.
• Forgiveness sets us free and reflects the heart of our Father.
• We must forgive because we have been forgiven much.
POINT: Unforgiveness imprisons us. Forgiveness releases us. Forgive from the heart. God's forgiveness is immeasurable, and so must ours be.
• We are to forgive from the heart, because we ourselves have been forgiven much by God.
• We can’t withhold forgiveness when God has forgiven us fully.
APPLICATION:
• Who do I need to forgive today?
• Am I holding others hostage while living free by grace?
V. THE WARNING TO US (v. 35) JESUS brings it home.
35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
Jesus applies the parable directly:
• Forgiveness is not optional in the kingdom of God. It must be from the heart. Forgiveness must come “from your heart”
• Not just words, Not surface-level. Not temporary. Not conditional, but true release
The FATHER expects us to extend the mercy we’ve received!
C.S. LEWIS - “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”
________________________________________
APPLICATION
1. We forgive because we’ve been forgiven.
• Your forgiveness cost JESUS HIS life.
• When you hold onto unforgiveness, you're denying the cross.
2. Forgiveness is a process—but it starts with a decision.
• You don’t have to feel like forgiving. You choose to release the debt.
• Pray: “LORD, help me want to forgive. Heal what’s broken in me.”
3. Let the Bread of Life remind you:
• At the Last Supper, JESUS broke the matzah, saying “This is My body.”
• That broken body is the cost of our forgiveness—and our model.
________________________________________
CONCLUSION
You are the servant in the story.
Your sin was great.
GOD’s mercy is greater.
Now, extend that mercy.
Forgive. Let go. Release.
Not because they deserve it, but because you didn’t—and GOD forgave you anyway.
________________________________________
POINT: JESUS is calling HIS CHURCH to a Higher standard of Love, Mercy, and Holiness.
Forgiveness is not a numbers game—it’s a lifestyle.
• Jesus redefines the limits of mercy.
GOD’s forgiveness of us is immeasurable and undeserved.
• Like the 10,000 talents, our sin was beyond repayment.
Unforgiveness reveals a hardened heart and spiritual amnesia.
• When we forget what we've been forgiven, we treat others harshly.
Forgiveness must come from the heart.
• It's not forgetting or excusing sin, but releasing the debt.
Unforgiveness invites judgment, torment, and broken fellowship.
• It poisons our spirit and damages relationships with others and with GOD.
PERSONAL PRAYER POINTS:
• For humility in your heart and relationships. – Humble like a child
• For boldness to confront and forgive others lovingly.
• For discernment in protecting others from stumbling.
• For a restoration mindset like the Good Shepherd.
LIFE APPLICATION
• Examine your heart: Is there anyone you haven’t truly forgiven?
• Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help to release the debt.
• Remember the Cross: We forgive because we are forgiven.
• Practice mercy daily—in traffic, in marriage, at church, in leadership.
________________________________________
PERSONAL RESPONSE:
Closing Prayer
FATHER GOD,
Thank YOU for YOUR WORD, and for the immeasurable mercy YOU’VE shown me through JESUS. I owed YOU more than I could ever repay, yet YOU canceled my debt at the cross. YOU are the Bread of Life, born in the House of Bread, broken for my sins so that I could be made whole. Help me never forget the price YOU paid for me.
LORD, create in me a clean heart—humble like a child, full of compassion, not bitterness. Help me take my own sin seriously and never be a stumbling block to someone else. Give me a shepherd’s heart to care for those who are wandering, and grant me wisdom to confront sin in love, with both grace and truth.
HOLY SPIRIT, Teach me to forgive from the heart, just as YOU have so graciously forgiven me. Help me to let go of the debts I’ve been holding onto, and to live as a vessel of YOUR mercy. I want to walk in humility, holiness, and love, living out the values of YOUR Kingdom in every area of my life.
In JESUS’ Name, Amen.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Pastor Bill
Hymns:
#58 “Come thou Fount”
#104 “When I survey the Wonderous Cross”
#227 “Amazing Grace”
#490 “Jesus Loves Me” (simple childlike trust)
#59 “Jesus Paid It All”
