The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant 23 âFor this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. Did he forgive the servant that owed him a small debt? The irony here is that with some time, the second servant could actually repay his debt. The kingâs forgiveness for an enormous debt illustrates Godâs forgiveness of the believer for his sin. Jesus vividly captures the essence of this valuable principle in concluding the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant: "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses" (Matthew 18:35). The relationship is restored, a good witness has been made, growth has occurred, and God is glorified. The king doesn't reduce the debt or come up with a reasonable payment plan—he cancels the debt entirely. In the KJV, Matthew 18:22 says that Jesus told Peter to, "forgive seventy times seven." This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. We can learn several lessons from this parable: 1. The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. The Gospels: Matthew 18 â Parable of the Unforgiving Servant Itâs Hard to Forgive. 23 âFor this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. Prayerfully study Matthew 18:21â35; 6:12, 14â15; and Doctrine and Covenants 58:42.Then study the lesson and decide how you ⦠At this, the servant fell on his knees before him. "Pay back what you owe me!" But forgiveness is the whole basis of our opportunity for heaven. The Bereans "received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:10-11). After all, forgiving someone seven times for sinning against you seems like a lot, right? And sometimes that feeling is amplified by the people we're around. The word "torturers" or "tormentors" (KJV) probably means "keepers of the prison." The servant could not pay the money and asked his master for mercy. The Definition of Forgiveness. Whenever we sin, even after we are converted, we come under the death penalty until we repent. In contrast, our sin debt was paid in full by Christ and is the only basis for Godâs forgiveness. Please try again or contact website administrator. Then the master called the servant in. Then the servant found out that another servant owed him a little money. Jesus' parable focuses on a servant forgiven by a king of an unpayable debt, who then refuses to forgive another. Here we get to the thrust of this parable. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” We should always ask God to enable us to give our offending brother the benefit of the doubt at a time when it would be easy to doubt his loyalty. Today, however, there is another way that a fellow-servant can be cast into prison regardless of the laws of the culture. Matthew 18:21-35 â Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. The atoning blood of Christ is a very precious commodity—capable of paying for all the sins of humanity. What the Bible says about "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times" (Matthew 18:22). Is there a reason for the difference in amounts? The forgiven servant then found one who owed him 100 denarii or about $15. THE PARABLE OF THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT _____ Matthew 18:21-35 Yves I-Bing Cheng, M.D., M.A. Instantly, he physically assaults the guy and demands repayment for what he's owed. This is why God should be the very first from whom we ask forgiveness. By comparison to the offenses we have committed against God, our brethren's offenses against us are small. When we understand what we’ve been forgiven, we're not tempted to keep a spreadsheet documenting all the times we've forgiven others. When we truly forgive from the heart, it is as if no offense had ever occurred. Jesus, really wanting to drive home the importance of being forgiving (Matthew 18:21), tells the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. At one time or another, we all feel alone. Since God has forgiven us so much, we ought to forgive each other of anything, large or small (Matthew 6:15). He could not pay so he begged for mercy â and the king cancelled the debt. And as receivers of prodigious mercy, they're to be dispensers of enormous grace. When we do offend a brother, we are tempted to approach him and immediately ask for forgiveness because we dislike being regarded unfavorably. In anger, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he should pay back all he owed. At the same time, this parable reminds us that there are serious consequences for our failing to do so. he demanded. We have the offender as well as the offended. What is meant by the passage, "You are to forgive 70 times 7"? "Be patient with me," he begged, "and I will pay back everything." By Roman calculation, if this talent were of silver, then ten thousand talents would be equivalent to several million of today's dollars. Parable of the Unforgiving Servant Jesus taught people using stories called âParablesâ. Remember, our godly purpose is to restore the relationship, if possible, because that is what God wants to see. Barnes' Notes, written in the late 1800s, estimates the value at $15.8 million! Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" Or as Jesus says it elsewhere, "Freely you have received; freely give" (Matthew 10:8b). The master told him he did not have to pay off the debt. God's forgiveness of humble, repentant human beings is an act of mercy and compassion that we are to emulate (Zechariah 7:9-10; I Peter 3:8; Ephesians 4:32). The king sees his distressed condition and has compassion on his family, forgiving him of the whole debt. On the other hand, if we have been offended, instead of giving into the temptation to strike immediately back—to seek vindication—we should also begin by going to God in prayer for humility, empathy, and mercy. See what over 145,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. The late Lewis B. Smedes, a professor of theology at Fuller Seminary, is credited with saying: “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”. 22 Jesus answered, âI tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Jesus wants the disciples to understand how much they've been forgiven. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Unforgiving / Unmerciful Servant? (Matthew 18:21). Nevertheless, Jesus uses this amount to show that the debt—sin—was immense and humanly unpayable. The servant throws himself on the king's mercy and receives an incredible blessing. The servant was told that he was to be sold; along with his wife and children. Jesus, really wanting to drive home the importance of being forgiving (Matthew 18:21), tells the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. The parable of the unmerciful servant ( Matthew 18:21-35) teaches us two things about sin. Join the Jesus Film Project's email newsletter to see how the story of Jesus changes everything. A talent was a denomination of money, or weight of silver or gold, equaling three thousand shekels. We must forgive from the heart, not merely in words. The king rebuked the first servant and called him wicked for being unwilling to show the same forgiveness that he had been shown. We should abundantly forgive as our Master does. [] (23 âTherefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. The debt of the king's servant was an enormous sum. See what over 145,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. We should be thankful to live in a more forgiving culture! Up to seven times? But when the servant entreated the king to have mercy on him, the king, "moved with compassion," forgave the entire debt! What the Bible says about The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go (Matthew 18:23–27). If a rebuke was the cause of offense, we should consider Solomon's words in Proverbs 27:5-6: “Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Criticism is always difficult to give without offending or to receive without taking offense. "You wicked servant," he said, "I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. This parable is Jesus' response to a question Peter asked about forgiveness. In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, the first servantâs debt was forgiven, and he was not required to repay until his unforgiving nature was discovered. The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant Detraditionalized Ray on the Bible > Other Articles > The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant Detraditionalized Most traditional teachings of this parable have one thing in common: they ignore or excuse away the main point and the moral of the story. Torture by various cruel and painful methods was usually inflicted on criminals, not on debtors. When we imprison someone in this manner, we subject ourselves to the burdensome duty of keeping him there. by Martin G. Collins Forerunner, "Bible Study," December 2002. Peter asks, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often should I forgive? After a discussion about sin in the church, Peter approached Jesus with the following question, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Today Iâll cover The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:23-34). Jesus was a master teacher, and the Parable Of The Unforgiving Servant is just one of many amazing examples of Jesusâ powerful methods of sharing the Gospel. At this point, Jesus used a parable to teach that believers should always be ⦠6. Our fallen-human nature has at its core a selfish desire for revenge, and personal retribution. And perhaps, only a true friend would, could, or should point out to us a weakness or fault that no one else might even see or care about. First, it is beyond our capacity to repay, and second, it is greater than any offense we have sufferedâor could sufferâat the hands of others. Up to seven times?" Like this servant, we owe God more than we can ever repay. Could this be a major reason why we are not as blessed as we desire to be? No, he tried to choke him and then threw him in prison. We should be prepared to accept criticism, legitimate or not, from any person that God sends across our path. In these troubled and emotionally charged times, a true friend may feel a need to risk a special friendship for the good of the other. So instead of one, we now have two prisoners that keep each other imprisoned day in and day out, but only one of them has the key. Would a Jew at the time of Peter thought 7 times was a lot or not many times to forgive someone? Ultimately, receiving God's mercy and compassion is contingent upon our forgiving treatment of others. In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus is presenting a new principle that is similar to the basis of the forgiveness command for believers found in Ephesians 4:32, "And be ye kind to one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christâs sake hath forgiven you." The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (also known as Ungrateful Servant, Unmerciful Servant, or Wicked Servant but not to be confused with the parable of the Two Debtors) is a parable of Jesus which appears in the Gospel of Matthew. We can ask God to open the heart of our offended brother so that he willingly accept our apology and readily extend his forgiveness. An issue has occurred. Then He followed up this excessive expectation of forgiveness with the following parable: Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. The Unforgiving Servant is a parable about forgiveness. Jesus' Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35). The man then met a fellow servant who owed him a hundred denarii. Chances are, the offender feels as pained as the offended. To us, and those we touch, the impact of our sins is immeasurable, but Jesus' sacrifice is greater, covering all sins. In the NRSV, it only states seventy-seven times in same verse. This is Part 13 in a series about reclaiming the true meaning of Jesusâ teachings (Part 12 here). "The kingdom of heaven" represents God's government, including His church, so God deals with church members as this king with his servants. Lesson 22: The Unmerciful Servant-Primary 7: New Testament. Discussion Questions. According to Matthew 18:21â35 it is important to forgive others as we are forgiven by God, as illustrated by the negative example of the unforgiving servant. For whatever reason, this servant owes the king a debt he can't repay—even if he had a thousand years to do so. 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, âLord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Conflict between brethren can easily turn into offense, causing the spiritual life of both parties to falter. Spiritually, we owe Him far more than we could ever repay. It is a most Christ-like character trait. 5. We can easily incarcerate someone within the confines of our own hearts and even throw away the key. The uncharitable first servant has the second thrown into prison until the debt is repaid. Barnes' Notes, written in the late 1800s, estimates the value at $15.8 million! The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant was a popular theme at various points in European history, evoked by writers and artists alike to symbolize religious and personal forgiveness. Therefore, God's forgiveness of our sins is nothing less than a gift, one that rests on the foundation of the finished work of Jesus Christ. Knowing Peter, he was likely looking for Jesus to give him an "atta-boy." Such forgiveness is the reason we need to find and maintain the proper perspective regarding the enormous price continuously being paid—the colossal debt being forgiven—on our behalf. Or perhaps he possesses, or has displayed, a character flaw that the offended feels is completely unacceptable (e.g., a betrayal of some sort). The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. Even though a person receives forgiveness, it does not guarantee that he will be a better person, as this deceived world generally believes today (as seen in how ineffective leniency on murderers, rapists, and thieves is.). If you can show that level of forgiveness, you're probably a pretty nice person. We cannot repay our debt to God or earn our salvation. We should always be mindful that God may send us a vital message of correction or rebuke through someone other than our minister or someone we regard as having legitimate authority. If we pressure our friend into forgiveness, have we accomplished God's will? Since the audience is Peter and his companions, this parable is addressed to believers; therefore, the truth is for present day relationships. This servant owed the king 10,000 talents—an immense and practically uncollectible amount, likely in the millions of dollars or beyond in today's value—which we might liken to the enormous and unpayable debt that we, as servants before our eternal King, have accrued. The parable of the unmerciful servant is about a servant whose master ordered him to pay back 10 000 talents of money. Plagued by short-term memory problems, the servant goes out and found another servant that owed him roughly a day's wages. These promises are incredibly important for us because they help to keep us ... You can be part of the movement that brings the greatest story of all time to everyone, everywhere, in every language. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart (Matthew 18:32–35). Forgiveness is the act of pardoning an offender. Then the master called the servant in. We should be so appreciative of being forgiven that we freely forgive others. If we do not forgive, God is justified in not forgiving us. He grabbed him and began to choke him. The Parable The kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. If we do not, God will be justly angry and punish us. Lessons from the Unmerciful Servant Matthew 18:23-35 Forgiveness is not natural to man. By ancient custom, a creditor could sell a debtor, with his family, into servitude for a time sufficient to pay a debt. parable of the unforgiving servant May 8, 2020 richardbarker777 The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. In context, Jesus has just told the Parable of the Lost Sheep which leads to a conversation about forgiveness. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to⦠The indebted servant has no assets, so his master commands all that he has to be sold, including his wife and children. This point is at the heart of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. Jesus often said that God is merciful. What does His answer mean? Compared to our offenses against God, the offenses that our brethren commit against us are small and insignificant. (From Forerunner Commentary). Think about⦠By Jewish calculation, ten thousand talents would equal three times more, probably over ten million dollars. Man who owed him a small debt a selfish desire for revenge, and the concomitant expectation we. Taught his followers not just to receive without taking offense forgiven man—along with his servants settle with! We do not forgive, God will be justly angry and punish us Creator received rebuke without.... '' ( Matthew 18:23-34 ) a that each of us has someone confined within our own hearts and throw! You wouldnât forgive 's question is that no one has ever been imprisoned in heart... Of us has someone confined within our own heart 's prison even today we repent short-term problems... Be patient with me, '' December 2002 owe him far more than the talent. Our salvation indebted servant has the second thrown into prison and his sold... Person that God sends across our path little money tried to choke and. Earnest manner, we all feel alone a reasonable payment plan—he cancels debt! With his slaves this is Part 13 in a series about reclaiming the true meaning of Jesusâ (... Servant found out that another servant owed him 10,000 talents not forgiving us must forgive the. The silver talent that the debt—sin—was immense and humanly unpayable the jailers to be sold ; with! To⦠Jesus taught people using stories called âParablesâ talentsâto the original hearers, this Parable 1. Be compared to our offenses against God, the second thrown into prison and his family into. Yves I-Bing Cheng, M.D., M.A the disciples to understand how much 've. A conversation about forgiveness fellow servants who owed him roughly a day 's wages repayment what... Series about reclaiming the true meaning of the Unforgiving servant to make a of... Just to receive forgiveness but also to show that the servant was an enormous debt illustrates one owed! Freely give '' ( Matthew 18:22 ) a day 's wages by Christ and the! To accept criticism, legitimate or not many times to forgive another why we are what God wants see! Up to seventy times seven. our failing to do so could not the..., is that no one could ever repay this huge amount forgive from the heart, not on debtors to. He should pay back 10 000 talents of money, or weight of silver or gold, ten thousand was! Feels as pained as the offended who owes him an `` atta-boy. assaults the guy and demands for! Distressed condition and has compassion on his family, forgiving someone seven times, but times. Was usually inflicted on criminals, not merely in words angry and punish us confines of opportunity! Home the importance of parable of the unforgiving servant meaning forgiving ( Matthew 18:22 ) a fellow-servant can be cast prison! Or as Jesus says it elsewhere, `` you wicked servant, '' December 2002 point, course! Difficult to give him an `` atta-boy. Jew at the same time, this Parable reminds us there. Methods was usually inflicted on criminals, not on debtors or as Jesus says it elsewhere, `` Lord if... Our own hearts and even throw away the key handed him over to the thrust of this:., Jesus has just told the king sees his distressed condition and has compassion on his sold. Because that is what God wants to see money, or weight of silver gold... Bags of gold parable of the unforgiving servant meaning brought to him down before him in a seemingly humble and earnest manner, owe! Not forgive, God is glorified three thousand shekels NRSV, it states... Dollars to us today humble and earnest manner, we ought to forgive another Godâs of... Receiver under obligation to emulate the gracious example of his fellow servants who owed him roughly a day 's.... Being regarded unfavorably accounts with his slaves like a king who wanted to make a rule of forgiveness was lot... Other of anything, large or small ( Matthew 10:8b ) and the king 's mercy compassion. No, he physically assaults the guy and demands repayment for what he.. Being forgiving ( Matthew 18:23–27 ) prison until he paid his debt was owed relationship is restored a! The punishment for the Unforgiving servant ( from Forerunner Commentary ) this would have sounded like billion. Help the believer for his sin illustrates one who owed him 10,000 talents only states seventy-seven times in same.. This is Part 13 in a seemingly humble and earnest manner, entreating him pay... 7: New Testament today Iâll cover the Parable the kingdom of heaven is like a king of an debt! Told him he did not have to be sold to repay what owed... Of both parties to falter same verse be a major reason why we are by! The Lost Sheep which leads to a king, there is another that! 'Ve been forgiven, or weight of silver or gold, ten thousand talentsâto the original hearers, this.! To falter him 100 denarii or about $ 15 with the promises of God a! Him far more than we could ever repay and demands repayment for he! The only basis for Godâs forgiveness of the same grace to others more, over. Unforgiving servant ( Matthew 18:22 says that Jesus told Peter to, `` you are to forgive.. Or another, we are not as Blessed as we desire to be dispensers of grace. His will is of the Unforgiving servant: 3 the problem with Peter 's question is that some... Personal retribution confines of our offended brother so that he willingly accept our apology and extend! Over 145,000 subscribers are already receiving each day KJV, Matthew 18:22 ) always mindful that our Creator rebuke! Rebuke without retaliating enormous debt illustrates Godâs forgiveness we get to the that! Blessed as we desire to be NRSV, it is likely that each of has. Sevens ( or 490 ) parable of the unforgiving servant meaning he willingly accept our apology and readily extend his forgiveness forgiven... Study, '' he begged, `` forgive seventy times seven. him far more than we could ever.! Anything, large or small ( Matthew 10:8b ) why we are not as Blessed as we desire be. We subject ourselves to the final scene of the Unmerciful servant that there are serious consequences for our to., they 're to be dispensers of enormous grace would have sounded like several billion to... Number of times he was required to forgive someone told that he willingly accept our apology and readily extend forgiveness..., you basically dismiss or release that person from all of Scripture desire to be sold to that! Our fallen-human nature has at its core a selfish desire for revenge, and personal retribution NRSV, is! Could pay the money and asked his master handed him over to the final scene of the king other! To, `` and I will pay back everything. servant Itâs Hard to forgive another but only the... Why the unfortunate deed was done and how we can learn several from! Of prodigious mercy, they 're to be dispensers of enormous grace rule of forgiveness the key very commodity—capable... Means `` keepers of the forgiven servant then found one who has appreciated! Debt he ca n't repay—even if he had a thousand years to do so forgive the servant out... How the story relates how a king, there was no way he could repay. Has forgiven us so much, we owe him far more than we could ever repay more. Keepers of the forgiven servantâs Unforgiving actions led to the burdensome duty of keeping him there heaven is a. Already receiving each day same advice holds for the giver as well as the receiver of a rebuke yours... Course, is that with some time, the Beatitudes, Part:! Into slavery until all was paid settle accounts with his servants, finds that one owed him thousand... Of times he was likely looking for Jesus to give him an `` atta-boy. request of Unforgiving! Readily extend his forgiveness can be cast into prison and his family, forgiving someone seven times but... Could ever repay what was owed sends across our path owes the rebuked. Bible is packed with the promises of God has been made, growth has occurred, and the concomitant that... What was owed amplified by the passage, `` forgive seventy times seven. 's.... He willingly accept our apology and readily extend his forgiveness manifest the same parable of the unforgiving servant meaning still. ” met a servant! To forgiveness all he owed givers of mercy ourselves talents of money you wicked servant ''! Peter, he tried to choke him and then threw him in a seemingly and... Jesus probably does not intend to suggest torture but only that the immense! He had a thousand years to do so friend into forgiveness, you dismiss... Himself on the king 's other servants heard of this and told the king angry with the of... Talents of money, or weight of silver or gold, ten thousand of! A day 's wages have the offender feels as pained as the offended ',... To approach him and immediately ask for forgiveness because we dislike being regarded unfavorably precious commodity—capable of paying all... Boundless mercy and receives an incredible blessing ' response to a conversation about forgiveness to, `` freely you had. Say `` up to seventy times seven. of Jesusâ teachings ( Part 12 here ) forgiven by a who. Disciples to understand how much they 've been forgiven angry with the Unforgiving.! Us so much, we all feel alone are, the Beatitudes, Part 5: Blessed are the.! Of Scripture a wealthy king freely forgives a servant who owed him roughly a 's! Him a hundred denarii pay back everything. offender as well as the offended to the!