Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Jesus had just been teaching on what to do when a brother sins against us (vv. 15-20). I suppose in this short text, Peter wanted to contribute something on this subject. He may have thought he was being quite brilliant by saying that we should forgive a person who sins against us up to seven times. But Jesus wouldn’t play Peter’s game. Jesus could have praised Peter for his words, yet He wanted him to know that there is to be no limit to forgiveness (seventy times seven or 144 may indicate an infinite number). This teaching, very soon, would be quite beneficial for Peter, as he would definitely need to be forgiven by Jesus for his denials.