The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter having come near to him, said, 'Sir, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him—till seven times?' 22 Jesus saith to him, 'I do not say to thee till seven times, but till seventy times seven. 23 'Because of this was the reign of the heavens likened to a man, a king, who did will to take reckoning with his servants, 24 and he having begun to take account, there was brought near to him one debtor of a myriad of talents, 25 and he having nothing to pay, his lord did command him to be sold, and his wife, and the children, and all, whatever he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant then, having fallen down, was bowing to him, saying, Sir, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all; 27 and the lord of that servant having been moved with compassion did release him, and the debt he forgave him. 28 'And, that servant having come forth, found one of his fellow-servants who was owing him an hundred denaries, and having laid hold, he took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that which thou owest. 29 His fellow-servant then, having fallen down at his feet, was calling on him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all; 30 and he would not, but having gone away, he cast him into prison, till he might pay that which was owing. 31 'And his fellow-servants having seen the things that were done, were grieved exceedingly, and having come, shewed fully to their lord all the things that were done; 32 then having called him, his lord saith to him, Evil servant! all that debt I did forgive thee, seeing thou didst call upon me, 33 did it not behove also thee to have dealt kindly with thy fellow-servant, as I also dealt kindly with thee? 34 'And having been wroth, his lord delivered him to the inquisitors, till he might pay all that was owing to him; 35 so also my heavenly Father will do to you, if ye may not forgive each one his brother from your hearts their trespasses.'

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 18:21-35

Commentary on Matthew 18:21-35

(Read Matthew 18:21-35)

Though we live wholly on mercy and forgiveness, we are backward to forgive the offences of our brethren. This parable shows how much provocation God has from his family on earth, and how untoward his servants are. There are three things in the parable: 1. The master's wonderful clemency. The debt of sin is so great, that we are not able to pay it. See here what every sin deserves; this is the wages of sin, to be sold as a slave. It is the folly of many who are under strong convictions of their sins, to fancy they can make God satisfaction for the wrong they have done him. 2. The servant's unreasonable severity toward his fellow-servant, notwithstanding his lord's clemency toward him. Not that we may make light of wronging our neighbour, for that is also a sin against God; but we should not aggravate our neighbour's wronging us, nor study revenge. Let our complaints, both of the wickedness of the wicked, and of the afflictions of the afflicted, be brought to God, and left with him. 3. The master reproved his servant's cruelty. The greatness of sin magnifies the riches of pardoning mercy; and the comfortable sense of pardoning mercy, does much to dispose our hearts to forgive our brethren. We are not to suppose that God actually forgives men, and afterwards reckons their guilt to them to condemn them; but this latter part of the parable shows the false conclusions many draw as to their sins being pardoned, though their after-conduct shows that they never entered into the spirit, or experienced the sanctifying grace of the gospel. We do not forgive our offending brother aright, if we do not forgive from the heart. Yet this is not enough; we must seek the welfare even of those who offend us. How justly will those be condemned, who, though they bear the Christian name, persist in unmerciful treatment of their brethren! The humbled sinner relies only on free, abounding mercy, through the ransom of the death of Christ. Let us seek more and more for the renewing grace of God, to teach us to forgive others as we hope for forgiveness from him.