FAITH FORWARD MINISTRY
Parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35)
Peter asked Jesus how often he should forgive someone who sins against him, suggesting up to seven times. Jesus responded, "Not seven times, but seventy-seven times," indicating that forgiveness should be limitless. He then told a parable:
A king decided to settle accounts with his servants. One servant owed him ten thousand talents—a sum so large it was virtually unpayable. When the servant begged for mercy, the king forgave the entire debt. However, this same servant later found a fellow servant who owed him a hundred denarii—a much smaller amount—and demanded repayment. When the fellow servant couldn't pay, he was thrown into prison. Other servants reported this to the king, who rebuked the unforgiving servant and handed him over to be tortured until he could repay his debt. Jesus concluded, "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart."
A king decided to settle accounts with his servants. One servant owed him ten thousand talents—a sum so large it was virtually unpayable. When the servant begged for mercy, the king forgave the entire debt. However, this same servant later found a fellow servant who owed him a hundred denarii—a much smaller amount—and demanded repayment. When the fellow servant couldn't pay, he was thrown into prison. Other servants reported this to the king, who rebuked the unforgiving servant and handed him over to be tortured until he could repay his debt. Jesus concluded, "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart."
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