First We Pray: Lesson 7---Question 10

What did Peter ask Christ concerning forgiveness? What did Jesus tell him? What do you think Jesus meant?

Peter chose a number I'm sure he thought was reasonable, or perhaps even generous, and Jesus came back with an answer that blew apart Peter's little box called "forgiveness". I think Peter gave an exact number because he was looking for a loophole; a time when he could rightfully say, "You've wounded me one too many times, I'm not required to forgive you this time". Christ could have given Peter an exact number, but He chose to frame His response using the concept of "multiplying". In other words, I think Christ was saying, "You need to open your heart wider, Peter. You need to have an attitude of forgiveness that allows you to be prepared to forgive others as often as is necessary---even beyond what you might feel is generous, and often beyond what you are humanly capable of".