Let’s explore the parable of the Unforgiving Servant. Jesus teaches us the need to have forgiveness in our hearts. For as we have been forgiven much we must forgive much. He teaches us that the sins against each other are small by comparison to the magnitude of sins against God. And he teaches us that we must forgive to be forgiven…
Compassion Promotes Forgiveness
Matthew 18:23-35
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.
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, 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.
A servant owing a great debt was brought before the king. His debt was so great there is no way he could ever pay the king back for what he owed.
At first the king was ready to sell him, his family and all that he owned to recover such a great debt. But he pleaded with the king. He fell down before him broken asking for his patience promising he would pay him everything he owed.
The king was so moved by the servants pledge, he was filled with compassion so he let go of the debt, he forgave the servant and released him.
In the Kingdom of Heaven the servant is mankind who owes God a great debt. For mankind has sinned so greatly that we are unable to ever pay back such a debt to God. But man falls down on his knees broken pleading for patience and promising that he will sin no more…
God being so moved by His love for mankind feels compassion toward man’s struggles with his sinful nature. Man keeps trying to let go of sin but fails again and again. So God Sent his Son to die on the cross for mankind’s sin. To wash man clean of the sin by the blood of the lamb. In so doing forgiving and releasing mankind from the debt.
The Double Standard of The Unforgiving Servant
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: 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.
The kings servant now free from his debt to the king comes upon another servant who owes him a debt. He demands immediate payment from him for the debt he owes. This man also does not have the means to repay the debt. He falls down before him broken asking for his patience promising he will pay him everything he owes.
But the kings servant does not show mercy to his fellow servant. He does not act with the same compassion that was extended to him. He mercilessly casts him into prison until the debt can be repaid.
In the Kingdom of heaven this is representative of how one man treats another man. God has forgiven man for his trespasses but man does not always forgive his brother for trespasses against him. He has not granted grace to his fellow man even though grace was granted to him.
The Punishment of the Unforgiving Servant
31 So when his fellow servants 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.
So the other servants told the King what had happened. That the kings servant had his fellow servant sent to prison over the debt until it could be repaid.
This angered the king and he confronted his servant indicating he was a wicked servant not to have forgiven his fellow servant the way he himself had been forgiven.
So the king decided that his original debt would not be forgiven and he would be sent to prison until he could repay the great debt he had owed to the king.
In the heavenly kingdom this trespass of sin against God is a much larger debt that was forgiven. A small miniscule debt was owed one man to another man by comparison. So viewed like this the debt of man is inconsequential and should have easily been forgiven. It was a much greater debt forgiven him by God. This would bring anger to God.
Forgive to be Forgiven
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
The Unforgiving Servant was a hypocrite. He applied a different standard to himself than to others. Somehow he felt that though he was forgiven his great debt he did not owe forgiveness to others. He did not forgive even a small trespass ultimately to his own detriment. And he incurred God’s Anger. So we are taught to forgive to be forgiven. “Forgive us our trespass as we forgive others who trespass against us”. Or you will risk the anger and the Wrath of God…
Ephesians 4:32
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
For the Love of God,
Sparks
