Not 7 times but 77 times

All Christians (and possibly many non-Christians as the qoute is famous) know the passage in Gospel by Matthew 18:22 when in response to Peter's question: "Lord, how many times shall I forgive someone who sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus responds: "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times".

For many casual (or not so casual) Bible readers the whole information carried in this passage is the message of forgiving a lot and not seeking vengance or holding a grudge. And of course they are right. But there is so much more into this passage! As most rabbis Jesus was constantly referring to Scriptures, and as He was talking to observant Jews, knowing the Scripture very well, He could counted on being instantly understood in His references. For contemporary Christian there is more work to be done to understand many of Jesus's references to the Scripture.

The key to deciphrating Lord's words is the question where in the Scripture previously the words can be found. In all Tanakah (Jewish Bible what is known as Old Testament to Christians) there is but one place where the words "seventy-seven times" may be found. And this is the fragment Jesus refers to. It is Genesis 4:24 where we can read part of the Lamech's song: "If Cain is avenged sevenfold, than Lamech seventy-sevenfold" (or seven times; seventy-seven times - depends on your translation).
Lamech was descendant of Cain and his words refer to seeking vengance over anybody sinning against him. In previous verse, Genesis 4:23 we can read: "I have slain a man for wounding me, and a lad for bruising me".

But just as Lamech is seeking revange seventy-seven times over, one should, according to Jesus's words, forgive with abundance. I remember reading some time ago that according to rabinical school of Jesus's time it was just and proper to forgive 3 times over somebody sinning against us before undertaking steps against him. That was quite a spirit of forgiveness when applied to the whole society as a rule (as was the case). Thus Peter probably thinks his offer of forgiving 7 times - more than twice as much as was proper and just - was abundant. Yet he is not praise for abundance but meets with surprising answer. But surprising just for a moment as Peter knows very well what is Jesus referring to. It is not about numbers. It is about spirit of compassion and forgivness and love as strong as the lust for vengance was in Lamech.