The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Matthew 18:21-35
Jesus was asked about greatness in the kingdom (v. 1). He taught that
greatness is determined by attitude, not by position.
He then warned against despising humble Christians, and taught about
what to do when a brother sins against us.
This talk about brothers sinning against one another got Peter to thinking,
and he came up to the Lord and asked a question about forgiveness (v. 21).
Peter’s question was answered by the parable.
There are some notable contrasts in this parable that are meant to get our
attention and teach us some valuable lessons about God, ourselves and our
willingness to give and receive forgiveness.
I. Peter’s Number vs. the Lord’s Number
vs. 21-22 – Peter asked seven times?
Commentators suggest it was an expression of Peter’s generosity. The
rabbis of the day taught to forgive three times, but never four. Peter doubled that
number and added one to it.
Jesus replied 70 x 7. Jesus did not mean that Peter was to keep a ledger
and forgive until the 490th time.
Peter was looking for a limit to his forgiveness. By exaggerating his
number, the Lord showed that his willingness to forgive his brother must be
limitless.
Christians must always be ready to forgive. Why? The reason is found in
the parable.
II. The Two Debts
A king settles accounts with his servants. One was brought who owed him
10,000 talents. Translation into dollar amount is difficult.
$52,800,000 - $2,000,000
The debt was a staggering sum that no man had any hope of ever paying.
v. 25 – he was not able to pay. So, his master commanded that he, his
family, and all that he had, be sold so payment could be made. This was the
practice of the time. The Law of Moses allowed it (Ex. 22:3).
v. 26 – the servant pled for patience to repay the debt. The master was
moved with compassion and actually forgave him the entire debt.
Then, the servant went out and found a fellow servant who owed him a
debt of 100 denarii. $44 - $15
The contrast between these two debts shows that there is no comparison.
In this parable, the master is God, debt is sin, the servant is me.
There is no comparison between the debt that we owe God and the debt owed
to us by our fellowman. The sins that man may commit against us don’t
compare to the sins that we have committed against God.
All of us are debtors to God (Rom. 3:23). How much do we owe God? Some
say “nothing.” Some admit “something.” Truth is - “everything!”
III. The Two Creditors
First, consider the mercy and compassion of the master. The servant
begged for patience to repay the debt. The master was so moved that he
canceled the debt entirely.
The master’s willingness to pardon the enormous debt shows God’s
willingness to forgive me of all of my sins.
Psalm 103:1-4, 11-14
Psalm 130:7-8
1 John 1:9
God is willing to forgive completely, if we are willing to come to Him in
faith and appeal to His mercy through the gospel.
Contrast his mercy with the heartlessness of the forgiven servant. He pled
for patience and was forgiven a debt he had no hope of ever repaying. He then
found a fellow servant who owed a pittance compared to what he was just
forgiven, grabbed him by the throat and demanded immediate payment.
His fellow servant fell at his feet and begged with the same words. These
words worked for the first servant, but did not work on him.
He was unmerciful and hypocritical. He expected something in others that
he did not expect from himself.
One who has received forgiveness from God is, at the very least, under
obligation to forgive his fellowman.
Is this me? Do I treat others the way that I want to be treated by God?
James 2:13 Luke 6:37-38
IV. The Master’s Treatment of the Servant
The first time the servant was taken before the master, he received mercy
although he owed a great debt. One wonders what he did to run up such a large
debt.
The second time the servant comes before the master, it is a different
story.
“You wicked servant!” He wasn’t called wicked when he owed the debt, but
when, after receiving compassion, he refused to show it (vs. 32-33).
The first time the master was moved with compassion. This time he is moved
with anger (v. 34, NASV). He delivers the servant to torturers until he should
pay back all that he owed.
The servant would have been better off having been sold (v. 25).
Conclusion:
The parable was the answer to Peter’s question. “How often shall my
brother sin against me and I forgive him?” How often do you want God to
forgive you when you sin against Him?
When God forgives us, He expects us to be willing to forgive others. If we
don’t forgive others from our heart, we will no longer receive God’s
forgiveness.
How would you describe your willingness to forgive? Are you like Peter,
looking for a limit?
Do we treat others by a different standard than we have been treated by
the Lord?
In light of this parable, do I have any right to expect God to forgive me of
my sins?