Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 18:22

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Till seven times, but Until seventy times seven times.

Luke hath something like this, Ch. 17.4. but it seemeth to have been spoken at another time, and upon some other occasion, yet the Sense is much the same, and there are who think that Peters mention of seven times, arose from our Saviours command there, that we should forgive our Brother, offending us seven times, when our Saviour by it intended not a certain and definite number, but a number incertain, and indefinite. But it is a greater Question, What sinning? And what Forgiveness is here meant? I cannot think that our Saviour here speaketh concerning the Churches absolving scandalous Sinners justly Excommunicated, but of the private Forgiveness of injuries done to us; it is not the Church, but I forgive him, for altho the Doors of the Church ought to be as open to a repenting Sinner, as the Doors of Heaven are, yet methinks both the Phrase of the Text, and the following Parable (which seemeth to me a Comment upon this Text) seems to lead us to the Interpretation of these Verses, as to private Wrongs or Injuries, they are properly sins against us, and such as it is in every single Persons power to forgive. But it seems hard, that Christians should be obliged to forgive another his private Wrongs, so often as he doth them, if he will go on without end, multiplying Affronts and Injuries to us; we must therefore know, that our Saviour by this Precept doth not oblige any to take his Enemy into his Bosom, and make him his intimate, or Confident again; but only to lay aside all Malice, all Thoughts and Desires of Revenge towards him, to put on a Charitable frame of Spirit towards him, so as to be ready to do him any common Offices of Friendship: Thus far we are obliged to forgive those that do us Injuries, so often as they stand in need of Forgiveness; the Apostle, Col. 3.8. speaks of Wrath, Malice, &c. as pieces of the Old man, which every true Christian hath put off, and calls upon us, in Malice to be Children.

Marginal references: Ch. 6.1[illegible: 1 letter]. Ma[illegible: 1 letter]. 11.25. Col. 3.13.