Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

him?” (It is Peter who is speaking to the Lord.) “Till seven times?” Then comes the Lord’s
answer, “I say not unto thee, until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.” 3147 Our
Lord did not vary the number, but multiplied the seven, and so fixed the limit of the forgiveness.
After seven years the Hebrew used to be freed from slavery. 3148 Seven weeks of years
used in old times to make the famous jubilee, 3149 in which the land rested, debts were remitted,
slaves were set free, and, as it were, a new life began over again, the old life from age to
age being in a sense completed at the number seven. These things are types of this present
life, which revolves in seven days and passes by, wherein punishments of slighter sins are
inflicted, according to the loving care of our good Lord, to save us from being delivered to
punishment in the age that has no end. The expression seven times is therefore introduced
because of its connexion with this present world for men who love this world ought specially
to be punished in the things for the sake of which they have chosen to live wicked lives. If
you understand the vengeances to be for the sins committed by Cain, you will find those
sins to be seven. Or if you understand them to mean the sentence passed on him by the
Judge, you will not go far wrong. To take the crimes of Cain: the first sin is envy at the
preference of Abel; the second is guile, whereby he said to his brother, “Let us go into the
field:” 3150 the third is murder, a further wickedness: the fourth, fratricide, a still greater
iniquity: the fifth that he committed the first murder, and set a bad example to mankind:
the sixth wrong in that he grieved his parents: the seventh, his lie to God; for when he was
asked, “Where is Abel thy brother?” he replied, “I know not.” 3151 Seven sins were therefore
avenged in the destruction of Cain. For when the Lord said, “Cursed is the earth which has
opened to receive the blood of thy brother,” and “groaning and trembling shall there be on
the earth,” Cain said, “If thou castest me out to-day from the earth, then from thy face shall
I be hid, and groaning and trembling shall I lie upon the earth, and every one that findeth
me shall slay me.” It is in answer to this that the Lord says, “Whosoever slayeth Cain will
discharge seven vengeances.” 3152 Cain supposed that he would be an easy prey to every
one, because of there being no safety for him in the earth (for the earth was cursed for his
sake), and of his being deprived of the succour of God, Who was angry with him for the
murder, and so of there being no help for him either from earth or from heaven. Therefore
he said, “It shall come to pass that every one that findeth me shall slay me.” Scripture proves
his error in the words, “Not so;” i.e. thou shalt not be slain. For to men suffering punishment,
3147 Matt. xviii. 21, 22.
3148 Deut. v. 12.
3149 Lev. xxv. 10.
3150 Gen. iv. 8.
3151 Gen. iv. 9.
3152 Gen. iv. 11, 12, 14, 15, LXX.
To Optimus the bishop.
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