The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
Matthew 18:21-35
The Parable
We know that this story illustrates a kingdom principle of forgiveness and judgment. It shows how the character of God interrelates with men based on the way men interrelate with God and one another.
Peter in Verse 21 asks the question, “How many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? [As many as] up to seven times?
Peter is asking the question in regard to the previous teaching on conflict resolution and your brother wronging you found in verse 15.
I also think Peter may be trying to show out a little here by coming up with the question and the answer in the same breath. In Peter’s mind, 7 forgiveness's is a large number. It may be a large number in some of our minds today as well.
Hypothetically imagine if your boss decided not to pay you for a weeks work and came and apologized from his heart and did this for 7 consecutive weeks, how many of us could truly forgive our boss from our heart?
Jesus completely blows Peter out of the water with his answer. You think 7 is a big number but I tell you that you must forgive your brother 70 times 7 times. This is practically the number 490 but I believe it represents something more infinite.
There is a key to taking on a merciful personality found in this parable.
There is an excellent and logical reason why some people are very critical and judgmental of others. We’ll see why in just a minute.
In verse 23, The parable of a human king correlates nicely with Jesus being the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who will one day settle accounts with his subjects or attendants.
In the parable the debt is financial but in our lives our debt is a sin debt. The Bible is very clear that every human owes God a sin debt. Every sin needs to be paid for or atoned for.
Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Each one of us has a huge sin debt that is owed to a holy, just and righteous God.
The financial illustration is a great way to understand the ratio of our debt compared to the debt other people owe us. The amplified Bible describes the debt of sin we owe the king as 10,000 talents or the equivalent of $10,000,000.
Because the man could not pay in v. 25, his master ordered him to be sold into slavery, with his wife and his children and every thing that he possessed and payment to be made.
This could be considered the wages of sin in this life being destruction ultimately followed by physical death.
Proverbs 13:15Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
Galatians 6:7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
This can also be looked at as eternal punishment for a debt that cannot be paid and due to God’s holy and just nature he must judge sin.
Both understandings are correct and we need to deal with both realities.
The Servant’s Response to the King
The servant fell on his knees, begging the king, “Have patience with me and I will pay you everything.”
The servant’s words in V. 26 indicate that he feels a sense of responsibility to pay back the debt even though it’s impossible to pay back. He begs for patience.
The King’s Response to his Servant
Because of the man’s approach and heart condition, the King’s heart was moved with compassion, and he released him and forgave him [canceling the debt.]
Wow, a $10,000,000 debt cancelled simply because he asked for patience and mercy. This speaks volumes about the heart of God toward us.
James 2:13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
God’s nature is Just and Merciful all at once. These two character qualities seem unreconcilable.
The only way these two character qualities can be expressed simultaneously is when there is an advocate or a scapegoat to take the punishment thus satisfying God’s demand for justice and a recipient of mercy, satisfying God’s merciful character.
We see a beautiful illustration of this in the Cross. Jesus (God himself) taking our punishment, the ultimate in mercy so he can maintain his integrity expressing justice and mercy simultaneously.
The First Servant’s Response to the Second Servant
In v. 28 the same attendant, as he went out, found one of his fellow attendants who owed him a hundred denarii [about 20 dollars]; and he caught him by the throat and said, Pay what you owe!
The illustration is a simple one. The servant receives a tremendous bail out package from the king and then goes out immediately and demands justice when he’s been shown mercy.
And the contrast financially is a sharp one. This illustrates the debt of sin people can owe us.
Have you ever been hurt by a person?
Verbally
Physically
Even maybe sexually abused?
Maybe it’s much less severe. Is their ANYTHING in your heart against someone?
So his fellow servant did the same thing he did when he obtained mercy from the King. He fell down in v. 29 and begged him earnestly to give him time and he would pay all!
A Sharp Contrast between the King and the First Servant
The first servant who’d received mercy from the king was unwilling to give his fellow servant time to pay the debt in v. 30. He had him imprisoned until he could pay off the debt of 20 dollars!
Who have you put into your heart prison. Is there someone you haven’t forgiven. Yes they’ve hurt you but is it really even close to the hurt you’ve inflicted on God?
People who hold grudges and bitterness either haven’t been forgiven by the king or they have forgotten what it is like to be forgiven by the king.
When the Love of the king comes in and forgives you your debt it’s impossible to hold a petty grudge (of $20) against your brother or sister in Christ.
So you’ve got to ask yourself. If you’re carrying some unforgiveness against a brother or sister. Am I forgiven? Or am I just disconnected from the revelation of that forgiveness?
Bring in Some Balance
Does God forgive people if they don’t repent and ask for forgiveness? NO
Should you?
Well, Yes if you can. Do it to free yourself from lingering in the past. Those memories if not dealt with can be toxic to your present time.
Romans 12:19
19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,“ says the Lord.
However, if they genuinely, from their heart, ask you to forgive them, you HAVE to forgive them if you expect forgiveness from the King of Heaven for yourself.
Listen to what the King now says to the first servant.
V. 32 You contemptible and wicked attendant! I forgave and cancelled all that [great] debt of yours because you begged me to.
V. 33 And should you not have had pity and mercy on your fellow attendant, as I had pity and mercy on you?
V. 34 and in wrath his master turned him over to the torturers (the jailers), till he should pay all that he owed.
Again I believe this has a dual meaning.
It effects your here and now (what are some practical ways that unforgiveness is like being tortured or jailed?)
It effects your eternity.
V 35 So also My heavenly Father will deal with every one of you if you do not freely forgive your brother from your heart his offenses.
Sometimes holding a grudge only effects you! The person who’s offended you doesn’t even know! LET IT GO!! Take it to the king and let that person free from your heart prison! It’ll make you feel better!
Some may say, “Pastor I can’t forgive what they did to me, I tried and I just can’t.” Well I would say to you that you need to catch a glimpse of God’s forgiveness for you again.
If they’ve asked for forgiveness it’s imperative that you do this. If they haven’t it’s important for your future.
Jubilee Family Church
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