21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
The previous passage deals with restoring a brother who sins against you. Now Peter asks, “how often should I forgive a brother who sins against me?” At the time, Rabbis taught to forgive three times. Peter is being very generous when he suggests seven times. Jesus shows that God’s way of grace far surpasses our best generosity when He says seventy-seven times.
Then Jesus answers more than Peter’s question with a parable. A king wants to settle accounts with his servants. A servant is brought to him who owes ten thousand talents. A talent was the largest unit of currency and ten thousand was the largest single number the Greeks could express. This was an un-payable debt that could be likened today to R10 billion owed by someone who earned R150 a day. The king is moved by the servants apparently sincere to pay back the debt even though he has no means to do so and he grants him relief. This represents the enormity of God’s grace and forgiveness. That same, forgiven, servant goes out and finds a fellow servant who owes him one hundred denarii. This was a payable debt of 100 days wages, or about R15,000 owed by someone who earned R150 a day. This second servant also pleads and pledges to repay the debt but the first servant has no mercy and has his fellow servant thrown in prison until he can repay the debt. News of this interaction reaches the king who has the first servant thrown in prison because he did not show the same mercy he had been shown.
This clearly teaches that we are not to forgive others because those who have wronged us are able to adequately repay what they have done. We are to forgive them because we have been forgiven. We are to forgive the comparatively little (no matter how great the offence or sin) against us because of the great forgiveness (we have sinned against an eternal and holy God) that we have received. If we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us from the consequences of our daily sins. God will punish and discipline us while we continue to harbour unforgiveness in our hearts. Who do you need to forgive today?