Αφιημι (Forgiveness) in Matthew 18:21–22 and Its Implications for Christian Living

Forgiveness (ἀφίημι) occupies a central position in the theological and ethical landscape of the New Testament, and no pericope encapsulates its radical demand more succinctly than Matthew 18:21-22. In this passage, Peter's question about the limits of forgiveness whether seven times suffices is met by Jesus' astonishing response, not seven times, but seventy-seven times (or seventy times seven), a numerical formulation that effectively abolishes all quantitative restrictions on forgiving. This paper undertakes a comprehensive exegetical, theological, and ethical investigation of Matthew 18:21-22, exploring its literary context, its Semitic background, its relationship to the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:23-35), and its profound implications for Christian living. Drawing on African New Testament scholarship particularly the contributions of scholars such as Justin Ukpong and Musa Dube alongside Western exegetical traditions, this study examines forgiveness through two primary theoretical lenses: Miroslav Volf's Theology of Embrace (1996) and Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of Liberation (1968), both of which illuminate the transformative and communal dimensions of forgiveness. The study employs a qualitative, exegetical theological methodology informed by literary critical and socio rhetorical approaches. Findings reveal that forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-22 is not a passive, sentimental act but a radical, counter cultural praxis rooted in divine grace, human dignity, and covenantal community. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for the integration of this Matthean ethic of forgiveness into Christian discipleship, ecclesial practice, and social transformation in contemporary African and global contexts.