Bible Question: In Matthew 18:21-22 is there any connection to Daniel 9:24-27? Is Jesus using this number to remind Peter of how forgiving God is and remind us to imitate Him as dear children Ias Paul says in Ephesians 5:1)? Or is it just a coincidence that this number appears twice in the Scriptures? |
Bible Answer: Hi, loavesnfish... There are no coincidences in Scripture. All things have taken place as God has decreed, and all of the events were documented accurately. That said, I don't think that one can be dogmatic about what was in Peter's mind when he spoke, as the Scripture does not tell us. Seven times would have been a significant improvement over the conventional thinking of the time. I am of a Jewish background, and I have seen people forgiven three times, but the fourth time it forgiveness was being withheld. Take the plain meaning of the text when it is sufficient for understanding the message of the passage. Do not try to read between the lines. The doctrine of the clarity of Scripture eschews the notion of hidden levels of meaning. In Him, Doc |