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About-Him.Com Devotional 06-26-2004
141: The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant - Mt. 18:23-35
Matthew 18:21 ¶ Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Peter was touched by the Lord’s discourse on humility and forgiveness. After the discussion had ended, he came to Jesus privately and asked how many times he was obligated to forgive his brother.
Was seven times sufficient? Some of the rabbis used Amos 1:3 as the grounds to limit forgiveness to three times. Peter no doubt felt that he was being very generous to extend forgiveness to seven times.
Jesus using a bit of hyperbole, i.e. exaggeration to make a point, answered that one should extend forgiveness seven times seventy, or unconditionally without limit. Jesus then proceeded to give The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant.
A certain king was auditing the books of his kingdom. He found that one servant owed him the vast amount of ten thousand talents. This would have been equivalent to the income of a province in that day.
Because he couldn’t pay the amount, the king ordered him and his family to be sold into slavery. The man fell weeping before the king and asked for mercy. The king was moved with compassion and totally forgave the debt .
The man left the king’s presence and soon found a fellow servant who owed him one hundred pence. The servant asked for mercy until he was able to repay the debt. Mercy was not extended. He was cast into prison until he was able to pay the debt.
This angered the other servants who reported the incident to the king. The king was angry and ordered the offending servant to be brought before him. The man was upbraided for not showing the same compassion to others that had been extended to him. He was ordered to be given to the tormenters until he was able to repay the vast sum that he had owed.
Matthew18: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormenters, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Conclusion and Application:
The ratio of ten thousand talents to one hundred pence is one to one million two hundred and fifty thousand. Our heavenly Father has foregiven us of sins equal to the ten thousand talents. Why are we unwilling to forgive others for their minor trespasses against us. We cannot be forgiven by God if we will not forgive our brother (Matthew 6:15).
I believe there is a parallel here to the attitude that some have towards sinners. They forget that they were at one time in the same muck and mire as those that they look down on (Isaiah 65:5).
James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
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