Seventy Times Seven
It is commonly accepted that Matthew 18:21-22 is Peter’s question about a reasonable limit of mercy. “How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” Jesus’ answer is essentially interpreted that forgiveness should be granted as often as it is sought with any manifestation whatsoever of sincerity. R3801. The lesson is that we are not to limit our forgiveness to any fixed number of times.
However, Jesus used an interesting formula that produces a fixed number. “I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven’ “ It is also the only place Jesus mentions multiplying two numbers. The product is 490.
The only other place in Scripture where this formula is found is in Daniel 9:24. It is there stated as 70 weeks. A week being 7 days, the formula is also 70 x 7 = 490. Daniel says this period was determined to “finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins.”
Forgiveness was also the very subject of Peter’s inquiry and Jesus’ answer. Furthermore, Daniel’s prophecy was to reach unto “Messiah the Prince’ “ Here in Matthew we have Jesus addressing the subject of forgiveness during the last week of Daniel’s prophecy. Could it be that Jesus was alluding to Daniel’s prophecy in this single sentence answer to Peter in Matthew 18:22? Is Jesus suggesting that God has arranged to deal with Israel by the same rule he advocates for individual mercy?
The desire for mercy and favor were the basis of the 70 week prophecy, Daniel 9:18-19. Since the “going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem” (Daniel 9:25), God was forbearing with a wayward people for a period of 490 years. Jesus was “cut off” in the midst of the last week (7 years), in 33 C.E. Yet exclusive Gospel favor continued with the natural Jewish house for the last 31/2 years until 36 C.E., to fulfill the full extent of the period of mercy of 490 years.
Then the Gospel was extended to the Gentiles. The first convert was Cornelius. God turned to the Gentiles to take out a people for his name. We here apply the beginning of Paul’s lesson of breaking off Jewish olive branches and the first grafting in of wild Gentile branches.
However, this did not spell the complete end of favor to the natural house. Now that the 70 x 7 extent of special mercy was about to be reached, and a change in their exclusive relation to God was about to occur, those careful to note the spirit of Jesus’ words could take hope. God does not limit his mercy to 490 times. Israel will yet be grafted back into their own olive tree (covenant favor). The Apostle Paul develops this theme in Romans 11, “God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew” and “the receiving of them” will be “life from the dead.”
So the seventieth week of 70 x 7 reached unto the Messiah who provided the ransom price, which will in due time be effective toward the natural house and all mankind. This will provide forgiveness for all who seek it with any manifestation whatsoever of sincerity, for “whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17
– Jerry Leslie