What does Matthew 18:21 mean?

Peter likely thinks he is being generous and noble in this question to Jesus. Jesus has just finished describing a process for what to do when another believer in Jesus sins against you. It's a process that starts with a one-on-one conversation and ends, if there is not repentance on the part of the sinful person, with removing that person from the community of Jesus-followers (Matthew 18:15–20).

Peter seems to be thinking about cases when someone repeatedly sins against you. The Jewish rabbis required those who followed the law to forgive a person who was guilty of the same offense three times. Then they were free to stop forgiving—in that mindset, the offending person had exhausted any reason to be forgiven. Peter seems to know that Jesus' standard will be higher, so he more than doubles that number. He forms his suggestion into a question: As many as seven times? Jesus, as usual, will give Peter a surprising answer.