[CYM] 38.0 Forgive Without Limit

Yeshua commanded His followers to practice unlimited forgiveness, reflecting the boundless mercy of God. This is most explicitly taught in Matthew 18:21–22, when Peter asks:

Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Yeshua saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Yeshua teaches that forgiveness should not be calculated or limited, but continual—rooted in God’s own forgiveness. He immediately follows with the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:23–35), where a man forgiven an enormous debt refuses to forgive a small one. The parable ends with a warning:

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. (v. 35).

In Luke 17:3–4, Yeshua says:

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Here, the focus is on consistent mercy—even in repeated offenses.

In Mark 11:25, Yeshua links forgiveness to prayer:

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Although John doesn’t directly repeat these sayings, forgiveness is a major command (e.g., John 20:23), and Yeshua demonstrates it in action—especially at the cross.

Across the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Yeshua commands a radical, limitless forgiveness, calling His followers to reflect God’s grace in every relationship.