What does it mean “to forgive seventy times seven”?

In the Gospel of Matthew, we find the question that Peter addresses to Jesus on the question of forgiveness (cf. Mt 18:21-22). What exactly does it mean to forgive «up to seventy times seven»? The director of the weekly Famiglia Cristiana, Don Antonio Rizzolo, answered the question that forgiveness- the director emphasizes -«is always strenuous, even just for once! According to the Jewish tradition, the fault committed could be forgiven up to three times and reconciled with those who committed it. Peter asks the question on this subject, expanding the possibility to seven, probably expecting Jesus to make a downward correction (there is the text of Gen 4,24 in which the “seven times” is increased to “seventy-seven” is used to indicate unlimited violence). To the logic of revenge, Jesus contrasts the evangelical forgiveness without limits (the meaning of “seventy times seven”), as God does with man. The example of the parable of the unforgiving servant, a pardoned debtor who then becomes a merciless creditor (cf. Mt 18:23-35), illustrates this teaching and warns those who harden their hearts and close to forgiveness to be granted to their brother».
Forgiveness is the dedicated theme next evening of March 16, at the Cultural Center of PIME in Milan, at 21.00. The reflection for the evening will be conducted by the biblical scholar Sabino Chialà, prior of the monastic community of Bose. You can follow the live of the conference on the youtube channel of Pime.