Week 5: A King Forgiving Debts

“Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.  But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him.  O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.”  Matthew 18:23-34

Jesus’ Explanation of this parable is:

“So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”  Matthew 18:35

My Summary & Reflection

In this story, a king discovers that one of his servants owes him a large sum of money.  The king demands repayment from the servant, who does not have the money to repay.  At first, the king commands that the servant be sold along with his wife and children in repayment of his debt.  The servant begged for compassion from the king.  The king was moved to mercy and forgave the servant his debt.  This same servant, whose debt had just been forgiven, then finds a fellow servant who owes him a small amount of money.  The servant grabs and assaults his fellow servant, who begs for compassion in the same way that the servant had with the king.  The servant, however, showed no mercy and had his fellow servant and debtor imprisoned.  When the king found out that the servant failed to show the same mercy to his fellow servant that was shown to the servant himself, he was angry.  The king reinstated the debt on his servant that he had earlier forgiven.

Jesus provides this parable, after responding to a question from his apostle Peter.  Peter asks, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?” Matthew 18:21  Jesus responds by saying, “I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven.”  Matthew 18:22  Jesus then, provides us with this parable.  This parable teaches us that we should always be merciful and compassionate even to those who have hurt, mistreated, aggravated, lied to, stolen from, or in all ways sinned against us.  In that same way, we will be forgiven every time we’ve sinned.   Our heavenly father forgives us our sins in the same way that we forgive those who sin against us.  “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”  Matthew 6:12

Your Reflection

• Is it difficult for you to free yourself from sins by asking for forgiveness?  If so, why?
• How can you open your heart to mercy and compassion?
• Is there some wrong committed against you with which you’re struggling with forgiveness?
• Does knowing that your own sins will be forgiven make it easier for you to be forgiving?
• Does our culture value forgiveness?  How would things look different, if forgiveness was the norm?