When I read the scripture in Genesis 4:23 about Lamech saying he would be avenged seventy-seven fold, it immediately draws my attention to Christ words to forgive seven times seventy. I just wanted to put all these scriptures together to see how they flow. We should always be willing to forgive those that hurt us and also we should forgive ourselves for hurting others. We should turn from sin and turn to God and ask the Holy Spirit to lead guide and direct our footsteps. As you journey through these passages you will come to the conclusion that it is essential for us to forgive others so that we to can be forgiven. The model prayer from Christ even tells us, Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive our trespasses (sin) as we forgive those who trespass (sin) against us. God wants us to walk in love as Christ walked in love for us. Although Christ had no sin his was willing to lay down his life for our sin. To pick up our cross we must be willing to forgive others seventy times seven. Not just a number but an amount of forgiveness that is beyond what we can pay. Accepting that Christ is the ultimate sacrifice for that payment and allowing Jesus to work in our lives so that we can walk in His love. (Terry Spradlin)
The scriptures below are The New King James Version of the Bible and the notes are from The Nelson Study Bible
Genesis 4:23 Then Lamech said to his wives:
"Adah and Zillah, hear my voice,
Wives of Lamch, listen to my speech!
For I have killed a man for wounding me,
Even a young man for hurting me
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold."
24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,
- What follows is a boastful taunt song that captures the violent spirit of Lamech. The words of Lamech are poetic, making the passage memorable and powerful. In this boast, Lamech indicates that he has followed the worst pattern of his ancestor Cain. In his wicked braggadocio, he taunted god by his words seventy-sevenfold. Whereas the Lord would bring vengeance on the slayer of Cain "sevenfold". Lamech boasted that by himself he would greatly magnify the vengeance on anyone who attacked him. This is another example (although as wickedness) of the inflation of numbers for effect (Numbers 1:46).
Genesis 4:15 And the Lord said to him, 'Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.
- Cain had fear that he would be an fugitive and vagabond because of murdering his brother. But God offered Cain a way out of his sin. He said anyone taking vengeance on Cain shall be seven times worse.
For your people and for your holy city,
To finish he transgression
"To make an end of sins,
To make reconciliation for iniquity,
to bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy,
And to anoint the Most Holy.
- Seventy weeks may also be translated seventy sevens. Many scholars agree that the "sevens" are seven years, as seventy years of captivity addressed in v. 2 implies. Leviticus 25:8 speaks of "seven Sabbaths of years"; Lev. 26:18, 21 implies that Israel's punishment would be multiplied sevenfold. Therefore, a seventy "week" exile should be expected to last for seven times seventy years. Second Chronicles 36:21 suggests that the captivity was to last long enough to make up for seventy omissions of the sabbatical year, which occurred every seven years. This would amount to 490 years before god's people would experience perfect reconciliation with their God. There are many different interpretations with their god. There are many different interpretations of how these years account for the eras of world history before the Second Coming of the Messiah. Some interpreters have suggested that the used of number seven in this verse is symbolic representing completeness. that is, the completion of all human history.
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "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. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, wit his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him saying, 'Master have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 27 Then the master of the servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying 'Pay me what you owe!' 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him saying,, 'Have patience with me, and i will pay you all.' 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had compassion on you? 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due him. 35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
- Seventy times seven may also mean "seventy-seven times." The point is not to keep count at all, but to always be wiling to forgive.
- Ten thousand talents was an enormous sum. A denarius was worth about six thousand denarii. A denarius was one day's wage for a laborer (20.2). A talent was worth about six thousand denari. Ten thousand talents would be sixty million day's wages, a sum that would be impossible to repay. Thus Jesus graphically portrayed this man's hopeless predicament.
- This parable reiterates the principle that we should forgive others because God forgives us.
- This verse is warning about the penalty for not forgiving others (see 1Cor. 11:30-32; Heb. 12:5-11). all of a Christian's sins are forgiven and forgotten forever 9see Psalm 103:12; Jeremiah 3:34; Hebrews 8:12). But this parable illustrates the Christian duty to forgive others (see 6:12,14, 15: 2 cor. 2:10; Eph 4:32). If our forgiveness should be in direct proportion so the incredible amount that we have been forgiven (v. 22), then we must always be willing to forgive.
Luke 10:17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but "rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
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