The Duty of Forgiveness Illustrated by the Parable of the Ungrateful Servant. With Matthew 18:21 cf. Luke 17:4, which makes repentance a condition. The Rabbis taught (Yoma, 86 b) that one must forgive one's brother (OT neighbour) three times (cf. Amos 1:3; Amos 1:6; Amos 1:9). According to Jesus, men's forgive ness should be limitless, like that of His Father in heaven. The natural man longs for limitless revenge (Genesis 4:24), the spiritual man's ambition is to exercise the privilege of boundless forgiveness. The parable that follows presents no difficulty. Judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy (James 2:13). The Divine forgiveness is not so absolute as it seems: he who fails to observe its conditions loses even that which he seems to have. Note the vast discrepancy between the two sums, say two million pounds against ten, and cf. the beam and the splinter of Matthew 7:3. The great defaulter must be one of the king's ministers, through whose hands the royal taxes passed. For the king's order cf. Leviticus 25:39; Leviticus 25:47; 2 Kings 4:1, and note the subsidiary lesson that the wrongdoer involves others in the consequences of his sin. Torture (Matthew 18:34) had been introduced into Judæ a by Herod, its mention here is a literary detail not to be pressed for interpretation.
Matthew 18:21-35
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him,I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.a
25 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.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him,b saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence:c and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 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:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.