Forgiveness is an active process, and Jesus says to do it endlessly. It was a concept as inconceivable to the Jews who first hear it as it is impossible for us. Peter s question was a logical one. Hebrew law taught that one should forgive another person one, two, or three times, but probably not four times. Jesus responds with an answer that requires an unlimited amount and absurd quality of forgiveness.
Some translations say seventy-seven and others say seventy times seven, but it makes no difference.
Seven denotes all there is. Jesus is just adding the seventy for emphasis. Seven says every time. The multiples say, I really mean it. Then he tells us that sobering parable in which we see God as the master and ourself as the servant who owes a debt so staggeringly high that it surpasses human comprehension let alone human ability to repay.