Matthew 18:21 says, Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?  I believe that when Peter asked Jesus this question that he was still looking at fulfilling the law and what he would have to do to be justified by the law.  We may at times look to justify ourselves based on how well we keep God's commandments, but we can never do enough to do so.  Verse twenty-two states, Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.  If Peter was looking to justify himself, Jesus made it impossible.  The law may have required forgiving someone seven times, but Jesus said that we are to forgive them seventy times seven, which would basically mean that there is no limit on forgiving others.  Verse twenty-three says, Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.  Jesus was once more using a simple parable to teach Peter and the other disciples a lesson about what God expects of His people.  The king would be representative of God.  Verse twenty-four states, And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.  One of the king's servants who owed him a great debt was brought before the king.  Anytime we go before God we go as a great debtor at His mercy.  There was no doubt that the debt was owed, just as there can be no doubt that we are indebted to God.  Verse twenty-five states, But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.  The king demanded that the debt be paid, and that everything the servant owned, including his family, be sold.  God could make such a demand on us, and we still would not have paid the debt.  Verse twenty-six says, The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  The servant asked for patience, or mercy.  That is all we can ask from God.  The servant promised to repay the king, and we know that we never can repay God, even if we promise to.  Verse twenty-seven says, Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.  Like this king, when we come to God, through faith in Christ, He will be moved with compassion for us.  Verse twenty-eight then states, But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.  This servant who was forgiven by the king encountered a person who owed him money, and instead of having compassion on Him, he violently demanded payment. This would refer to followers of Christ, who had been totally freed from our debt to God not being willing to forgive others who are indebted to us.  Verse twenty-nine states, And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  This was the same reaction that the servant demanding payment had with the king.  We are like the one that the debt was owed to.  Having been forgiven of our debt to God, how do we react to those who owe us a debt?  Verse thirty declares, And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.  The forgiven servant did not forgive.  He had the one who owed him cast into prison until he could repay him.  We can assume that this was his legal right, but we as followers of Christ are called on to act with compassion instead of demanding satisfaction under the law.  Verse thirty-one says, So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.  The other servants saw what was done, were sorry and told the Lord what had happened.  We can be certain that God knows what we do, even without someone telling Him.  Verse thirty-two states, Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  The lord was not at all happy with the unforgiving servant, and reminded him what the lord had done for Him.  He was called a wicked servant.  When we as followers of Christ refuse to forgive others when they in some way harm us, we are just as evil from God's perspective.  Verse thirty-three asks, Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?  The lord wanted to know why his servant didn't have compassion for his fellow servant.  God expects His followers to be compassionate and forgiving to those around them, even those who may have harmed them.  Verse thirty-four declares, And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.  The servant, who had been forgiven but would not forgive was delivered to his tormentors until the debt was repaid.  I believe that God takes forgiveness very seriously, and He expects us to forgive others.  We can never repay what we owe God, so our only hope is His forgiveness, and we are told that He will forgive us as we forgive others. In verse thirty-five Jesus says, So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.  Jesus makes very clear the importance of forgiving others.  This parable was in answer to Peter's question about how many times we should forgive another person, and I believe that the answer is as often as necessary.