Parable of the Unforgiving Servant Matthew 18 21

Parable of the Unforgiving Servant Matthew 18: 21 -35

Context [Matt. 18: 1 -22] • Jesus teaching on humility and the severity of sin (: 1 -14) • Jesus teaching on dealing with a brother who offends – forgiveness • Go to them alone (: 15) • Take one or two more (: 16) • Take it to the Church (: 17) • Parable in response to Peter’s question (: 21 -22)

Parable of the Unforgiving Servant [Matt. 18: 21 -34] The King and His Servant • Owed 10, 000 talents (: 24) • 1 talent = 6000 denarii (16 -20 yr. wage) • Debt ~ 160, 000 – 200, 000 year’s worth of wages (i. e. could never be repaid) • Unable to pay = sold with family (: 25) [Lev. 25: 39] The Servant and His Fellow • Owed 100 denarii (: 28 a) • 1 denarius = 1 day’s wage • Debt ~ 100 day’s wage (1/3 of a year) (still a large debt, but could be repaid) • Lays hands on him and takes him by the throat (: 28 b) • Pleads for mercy (patience) (: 26) (: 29) • King has compassion and forgives • Shows no mercy and cast him debt (: 27) into prison (: 30)

The King’s Response [Matt. 18: 31 -34] • Fellowservants took note of the unforgiving servant (: 31) • King confronts the unforgiving servant – should have had compassion as I had pity (: 32 -33) • Cast unforgiving servant to the tormenters (: 34)

Application [Matt. 18: 35] • The King is the Father, we are the servant, others are the fellow servant • We owe the Father a debt that could never be repaid • Rom. 6: 23 – wages of sin = death • Heb. 2: 1 -3 – how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation • Heb. 10: 26 -31 – how much sorer punishment…

Application [Matt. 18: 35] • The King is the Father, we are the servant, others are the fellow servant • We owe the Father a debt that could never be repaid • The Father has shown us mercy we should be merciful • • Ps. 103: 8 -14 – the Lord is merciful and gracious Mt. 5: 7 – blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy Js. 2: 8 -13 – if we show no mercy, we will be judged with no mercy Col. 3: 13/Eph. 4: 32 – forgive as Christ forgave us

Application [Matt. 18: 35] • The King is the Father, we are the servant, others are the fellow servant • We owe the Father a debt that could never be repaid • The Father has shown us mercy -> we should be merciful • Our forgiveness is dependent on how we forgive others • Matt. 6: 12, 14 -15 – forgive us our debts AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS • Mk. 11: 25 -26 – forgive that ye may be forgiven

Application [Matt. 18: 35] • • • The King is the Father, we are the servant, others are the fellow servant We owe the Father a debt that could never be repaid The Father has shown us mercy -> we should be merciful Our forgiveness is dependent on how we forgive others Just as we received forgiveness of an impossible debt, our forgiveness of others is to be unlimited • Matt. 18: 21 -22 – not 7 but 70*7 • Luke 17: 3 -5 – rebuke, repent, forgive

The Process of Forgiveness [Matt. 18: 15 -17] • If a brother sins against us… • 1. Rebuke alone • If he repents, forgive him! • 2. If he doesn’t repent, take one or two more • If he repents, forgive him! • 3. If he doesn’t repent, take it to the church • If he repents, forgive him! • 4. If he doesn’t repent, then let him be as a heathen/publican