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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Theophylact of Ohrid
Then, as if someone were to say: let it be so, Lord! You have distinguished this well; but what is to be done with the one who has been forgiven many times and offends again? The Lord says: if he repents again, forgive him. And further: "if... he turns back seven times in a day,... forgive him." And the phrase "seven times in a day" is used here in place of "many times," just as in the expression: "even the barren woman bears seven times" (1 Sam. 2:5). Therefore, as many times as he repents, so many times must you forgive him. …
Clement of Alexandria
Further, in respect to forbearance. "If thy brother," it is said, "sin against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. If he sin against thee seven times in a day, and turn to thee the seventh time, and say, I repent, forgive him."
Western Saints
Ambrose of Milan
Or this number is used because God rested on the seventh day from His works. After the seventh day of the world everlasting rest is promised us, that as the evil works of that world shall then cease, so also may the sharpness of punishment be abated.
Bede
And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns back to you, saying: I repent, forgive him. The number seven does not set a limit for granting forgiveness, but either commands that all sins should be forgiven, or that the one repenting should always be forgiven. For often the universality of any matter or time is indicated by the number seven. Hence it is sung in the psalm: Seven times a day I have praised you (Psalm 119), which means nothing other than His praise is always in my mouth (Psalm 34). …
Bonaventure
And since mercy ought to exceed the offense, therefore he adds: And if he sins against you seven times in a day, through manifold injury. Bede: "Universality is customarily designated by the number seven," on account of which it is also said in Proverbs chapter twenty-four: "The just man falls seven times in a day and rises again." Moreover, through these seven occasions, sevenfold tribulations can be gathered by which someone injures a neighbor: by misleading the intellect, by corrupting the affections, by afflicting the body, by …
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