The problem with Peter's question is that he wanted to make a rule of forgiveness. In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, the king forgave his servant and did not make him pay back a huge debt. In contrast, our sin debt was paid in full by Christ and is the only basis for Godâs forgiveness. Like this servant, we owe God more than we can ever repay. A wealthy king freely forgives a servant who owes him an exorbitant amount. No, he tried to choke him and then threw him in prison. The kingâs forgiveness for an enormous debt illustrates Godâs forgiveness of the believer for his sin. The parable of the unforgiving servant, also called the parable of the unmerciful servant, is told by Jesus to illustrate the necessity of forgiveness and mercy. THE PARABLE OF THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT _____ Matthew 18:21-35 Yves I-Bing Cheng, M.D., M.A. In the KJV, Matthew 18:22 says that Jesus told Peter to, "forgive seventy times seven." THE PARABLE OF THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT (Matthew 18:23-34) A. The relationship is restored, a good witness has been made, growth has occurred, and God is glorified. 4. By comparison to the offenses we have committed against God, our brethren's offenses against us are small. The wrong mindset can lead to a sinful attitude that is in opposition to God, keeping us locked inside a bitter prison of enmity and preventing our entrance into His Kingdom. When we do offend a brother, we are tempted to approach him and immediately ask for forgiveness because we dislike being regarded unfavorably. Jesus often said that God is merciful. 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. "You wicked servant," he said, "I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. But when the servant entreated the king to have mercy on him, the king, "moved with compassion," forgave the entire debt! We can liken this request for the opening of our brother's heart to a request for the opening of his heart's prison doors, too easily slammed shut by an unforgiving attitude. Then the master called the servant in. By ancient custom, a creditor could sell a debtor, with his family, into servitude for a time sufficient to pay a debt. 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. The accounting (Matthew 18:23). If we pressure our friend into forgiveness, have we accomplished God's will? 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." 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. When we imprison someone in this manner, we subject ourselves to the burdensome duty of keeping him there. Lesson 22: The Unmerciful Servant-Primary 7: New Testament. 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. No one has ever been imprisoned in His heart! "Pay back what you owe me!" 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. We can ask God to help us understand why the unfortunate deed was done and how we can find a pathway to forgiveness. All Scripture references quote the New International Version unless otherwise noted. Whenever we are wronged, especially by a brother, we should strive to avoid becoming so inflexible that we slam shut the doors of animosity against him. The story relates how a king, settling accounts with his servants, finds that one owed him 10,000 talents. The consequences of such a decision—to withhold forgiveness—particularly from a brother who sincerely asks for absolution and reconciliation, can be both devastating and eternal in scope for us. If we do not, God will be justly angry and punish us. by Martin G. Collins Forerunner, "Bible Study," December 2002. We can learn several lessons from this parable: 1. Since the audience is Peter and his companions, this parable is addressed to believers; therefore, the truth is for present day relationships. But he also said, in a statement that can send chills up the spine, âIf you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespassesâ (Matt. 22 Jesus answered, âI tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. If we do not forgive, God is justified in not forgiving us. For whatever reason, this servant owes the king a debt he can't repay—even if he had a thousand years to do so. Today, however, there is another way that a fellow-servant can be cast into prison regardless of the laws of the culture. An issue has occurred. When the first servant made the same request of the king, there was no way he could ever repay what was owed. At this, the servant fell on his knees before him. But forgiveness is the whole basis of our opportunity for heaven. It is likely that each of us has someone confined within our own heart's prison even today. 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. Forgiveness is the act of pardoning an offender. he demanded. IV. 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.”. The uncharitable first servant has the second thrown into prison until the debt is repaid. Then the servant found out that another servant owed him a little money. By Roman calculation, if this talent were of silver, then ten thousand talents would be equivalent to several million of today's dollars. The same advice holds for the giver as well as the receiver of a rebuke. Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, The Beatitudes, Part 5: Blessed Are the Merciful. Is it not odd that this man could have his fellow servant thrown into prison for a relatively small debt (as little as $20 in today's money)? The word "torturers" or "tormentors" (KJV) probably means "keepers of the prison." Compared to our offenses against God, the offenses that our brethren commit against us are small and insignificant. [] (23 âTherefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. Normally, the servant would be cast into prison and his family sold into slavery until all was paid. 5. See what over 145,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. Up to seven times? Parable of the Unforgiving Servant; Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. At this point, Jesus used a parable to teach that believers should always be ⦠The Definition of Forgiveness. Here we get to the thrust of this parable. 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). We have nothing to pay toward our indebtedness. Assuming that most people do not purposefully look to offend, particularly within the church, the offender was probably clumsy or foolishly inconsiderate in his approach to the offended. Or as Jesus says it elsewhere, "Freely you have received; freely give" (Matthew 10:8b). Nevertheless, Jesus uses this amount to show that the debt—sin—was immense and humanly unpayable. God has forgiven them all. Purpose. 4. 23 âFor this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. Ultimately, receiving God's mercy and compassion is contingent upon our forgiving treatment of others. We must forgive from the heart, not merely in words. And as receivers of prodigious mercy, they're to be dispensers of enormous grace. The servant throws himself on the king's mercy and receives an incredible blessing. Barnes' Notes, written in the late 1800s, estimates the value at $15.8 million! 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. Some translations say "up to seventy times seven." Please try again or contact website administrator. Chances are, the offender feels as pained as the offended. What the Bible says about The story relates how a king, settling accounts with his servants, finds that one owed him 10,000 talents. Conflict between brethren can easily turn into offense, causing the spiritual life of both parties to falter. Our sins are very great. T he Lord Jesus taught His followers not just to receive forgiveness but also to show such forgiveness. In keeping with the customs, the king decided to sell off the servant, his family, and all his belongings in order to recoup some of his losses. We should be thankful to live in a more forgiving culture! The woman in Africa forgave her husband; we can forgive those in our lives wherever we are. We cannot repay our debt to God or earn our salvation. 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.). Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. Or perhaps he possesses, or has displayed, a character flaw that the offended feels is completely unacceptable (e.g., a betrayal of some sort). John W. Ritenbaugh This point is at the heart of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. Peter asks, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often should I forgive? Hearing this, the servant falls down before him in a seemingly humble and earnest manner, entreating him to have patience with him. The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. Grace bestowed puts the receiver under obligation to manifest the same grace to others. What the Bible says about Jesus probably does not intend to suggest torture but only that the servant would be imprisoned until he paid his debt. To avoid offense, we must remember our humility and our place whenever we are inclined to point out a fault to a brother or sister. Think about⦠Consider well the adage: “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”. Christ's point, of course, is that no one could ever repay this huge amount. Parable of the Unforgiving Servant See what over 145,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. Could this be a major reason why we are not as blessed as we desire to be? He could not pay so he begged for mercy â and the king cancelled the debt. After all, forgiving someone seven times for sinning against you seems like a lot, right? We have the offender as well as the offended. The Bible is packed with the promises of God. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. A talent was a denomination of money, or weight of silver or gold, equaling three thousand shekels. This parable is Jesus' response to a question Peter asked about forgiveness. Plagued by short-term memory problems, the servant goes out and found another servant that owed him roughly a day's wages. Then the master called the servant in. The king's other servants heard of this and told the king. He grabbed him and began to choke him. Lessons from the Unmerciful Servant Matthew 18:23-35 Forgiveness is not natural to man. Martin G. Collins The man then met a fellow servant who owed him a hundred denarii. The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go (Matthew 18:23–27). The Unforgiving Servant is a parable about forgiveness. When the first servant made the same request of the king, there was no way he could ever repay what was owed. We can ask Him to help us understand the severity of the damage we have caused and for the proper level of contrition, humility, and patience to help repair and restore the relationship. Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. We can ask God to open the heart of our offended brother so that he willingly accept our apology and readily extend his forgiveness. (From Forerunner Commentary). Instead of having two (or even more) persons confined behind the doors of an intractable grudge, we experience the joy and the freedom of reconciliation. By asking Jesus what the maximum number of times he was required to forgive someone was, he missed the point of grace. When we understand what we’ve been forgiven, we're not tempted to keep a spreadsheet documenting all the times we've forgiven others. "You wicked servant," he said, "I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. The heartlessness of the forgiven man—along with his utter disregard of his obligation to emulate the gracious example of his king—is sin. The parable of the Unforgiving Servant from this weekâs Gospel is one of my favorite passages from all of Scripture. The punishment for the unforgiving servant shows Godâs efforts to help the believer appreciate his forgiveness. 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. Offenses committed against us are comparatively small. Or maybe the offender disregarded the direction given in Galatians 6:1: “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (emphasis ours). When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened (Matthew 18:28–31). We should abundantly forgive as our Master does. Be always mindful that our Creator received rebuke without retaliating. In the parable of the unforgiving servant which is found only in Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus teaches several lessons on forgiveness and how to deal with unforgiveness. www.meetingwithchrist.com . 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. In anger, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he should pay back all he owed. In context, Jesus has just told the Parable of the Lost Sheep which leads to a conversation about forgiveness. We should be so appreciative of being forgiven that we freely forgive others. Barnes' Notes, written in the late 1800s, estimates the value at $15.8 million! This petty debtor begged for additional time to pay off the debt, but the servant, without mercy, had him jailed until all was paid. "The kingdom of heaven" represents God's government, including His church, so God deals with church members as this king with his servants. At the same time, this parable reminds us that there are serious consequences for our failing to do so. 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. The king rebuked the first servant and called him wicked for being unwilling to show the same forgiveness that he had been shown. The King Summons the Unforgiving Servant â Judgment He States that the Unforgiving Servant is Wicked â Clear Indication that This Servant is not a Believer Recounts the Mercy the Servant Received â Explanation States that He Should Have Extended Mercy in the Same Manner â Should Have Demonstrated Fruit of the Spirit 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. "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times" (Matthew 18:22). Prayerfully study Matthew 18:21â35; 6:12, 14â15; and Doctrine and Covenants 58:42.Then study the lesson and decide how you ⦠The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Mt 18:21-35) challenges each of us to respond to the immense mercy we have received from the Father by showing that same mercy to our neighbor. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" The king sees his distressed condition and has compassion on his family, forgiving him of the whole debt. Matthew 18:21-35 â Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. By Jewish calculation, ten thousand talents would equal three times more, probably over ten million dollars. All that he had would have to be sold to repay that payment. Watch the film here and think for yourself: Are there things that you would forgive and things that you wouldnât forgive? What is meant by the passage, "You are to forgive 70 times 7"? The debt of the king's servant was an enormous sum. 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. At one time or another, we all feel alone. Spiritually, we owe Him far more than we could ever repay. The servant fell to his knees and begged his master to have patience with him. This is why God should be the very first from whom we ask forgiveness. (Matthew 18:21). As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Whenever we sin, even after we are converted, we come under the death penalty until we repent. Instantly, he physically assaults the guy and demands repayment for what he's owed. 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. We can easily incarcerate someone within the confines of our own hearts and even throw away the key. Jesus taught people using stories called âParablesâ. Jesus' Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35). Why was the king angry with the unforgiving servant? 6. 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. But he refused. Is there a reason for the difference in amounts? Torture by various cruel and painful methods was usually inflicted on criminals, not on debtors. A man owed the king ten thousand talents. Forgiven, the servant walks through the palace gates, runs into a man who owes him a comparatively meager amount (a hundred denarii, equivalent to a few thousand dollars). 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. Matthew 18:32-35 The forgiven servantâs unforgiving actions led to the final scene of the story. If this talent were of gold, ten thousand talents would amount to about fifty times more than the silver talent! 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. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. 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