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NASB | Matthew 18:22 Jesus *said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 18:22 Jesus answered him, "I say to you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven. |
Bible Question:
The NIV translates this verse: Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." - then it has a footnote "Or seventy times seven". I've noticed translations go back and forth between the two numbers. Any idea why and what the right answer is? I know in the grand scheme of salvation, it's not that important, but it's just been a bothersome thing. |
Bible Answer: Straws, the arithmetic aside, Jesus' point, of course, is that we must be very generous with our forgiveness, whether it's 77 times or 490, or an indefinite number -- a whole heap of times as we say in Arkansas. I can tell you frankly that if someone punched me in the nose over and over, I'd really rather go with the lower number of 77, and even the lower number would not contribute greatly to my happiness! To forgive someone 77 times for punching me in the nose 77 times would, I truly believe, severely tax my ability to forgive :-) --Hank |