Parable of The Unforgiving Servant

Parable of The Unforgiving Servant 

Matthew 18:23-35

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle

accounts with his servants.

24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 

25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children

and all that he had, and payment to be made. 

26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you

everything.’ 

27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 

28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a

hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 

 

29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay

you.’ 

30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 

31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they

went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 

32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that

debt because you pleaded with me. 

33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 

34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 

35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your

brother from your heart.”

What should we do? How much should we forgive?

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I

forgive him? As many as seven times?” 

22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Why?

Because we are the wicked servant who was forgiven of our debt owed to a holy God.

We have sinned each one of us.

But God sent his son Jesus to die on a cross for our sins.

WE ARE NO LONGER SLAVES TO SIN (meaning having to pay off the debt we owed,

indentured servants)

WE ARE FORGIVEN! SO LETS FORGIVE OTHERS!

 

How do we address those in the family who wrong us?

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he

listens to you, you have gained your brother. 

16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be

established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 

17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the

church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 

18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you

loose on earth shall be loosed[ f ] in heaven. 

19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for

them by my Father in heaven. 

20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”