The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
Matthew 18:21-35

Read Matthew 18:15-17, after Jesus spoke these words it sparked a question from Peter.
Matthew 18:21-22
The Rabi's taught that three times was the appropriate number of times to forgive.
Peter was being generous in asking is seven times was enough. Jesus was not giving a specific number of times to be counted, but rather communicating the idea that you don't count the number of times you forgive, you just keep forgiving. Jesus set a higher standard.

Matthew 18:23-25
Look at the symbolism.
1. The King and the servant
2. The value of a talent
3. The significance of selling the servant and his family
4. The debt could not be paid

Bankruptcy:
1) Can't repay large debts
2) May loose everything (possibly your family)

Matthew 18:26-27
How would you feel if you had an enormous debt and someone paid it for you?
Ephesians 4:32
Colossians 3:13
How should a forgiven person act toward other people?
Does this instruction have limits on who and how many times you should pray?



Matthew 18:28-30
Look at the difference between the two debts.
Why would the forgiven servant do such a thing?
a. he had not accepted the forgiveness of the king in his heart as a gift of grace, but rather something deserved.
b. he did not have compassion, but the king did.
c. he did not make the conncetion between the forgiveness he had received and how he should act.
d. he did not change in responce to the forgiveness of his dept.

The main character was stopped by a police officer for making an illegal turn. She was very angry and decided to plead her case in court instead of seeking a cancellation of the ticket based on her celebrity status. The judge was so excited to have her in his court that he declared her gulity but suspended her sentence. She would not accept his offer. She demanded to be declared not gulity based on the evidence she provided. The judge then became angry, so he sentenced her to 40 hours of community service.

Why is it so hard for us to accept someting we don't deserve?

Matthew 18:31-35
How does an forgiving spirit take its toll on a person?
(bitterness, stress-related disease, heart attack, ect.)
Look at verse 35. WE DO NOT GAIN OR EARN GOD'S FORGIVENESS BY FORGIVING OTHERS. FORGIVENESS COMES FROM A HEART THAT HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED BY GOD. AS HIS CHILDREN, WE ARE TO ACT AS HE DOES, WHICH INCLUDES THE PRACTICE OF FORGIVING FROM THE HEART.

Conclusion
Jesus raised the previously held standard of forgiveness from a set number (3 by the rabi, 7 by Peter) to total forgiveness by Jesus. The Parable of the unforgiving servant stresses that forgiven people should be forgiving people. Our motivation to forgive should be God's forgiveness in us.

Think about your relationships, (friends, family, parents, spouse, former spouse, coworkers, ect) identify one person that you need to forgive.

New Testament Teaching on Forgiveness

Matthew 6:15
Mark 11:25
Luke 6:37
Luke 17:3-4
Ephesians 4:23
Colossians 3:13

Commentary links for futher study
1. Discipline and Forgiveness
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/index.php?action=getCommentaryText&cid=1&source=1&seq=i.47.18.6
2. Addressing Stumbling Blocks Seriously
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/index.php?action=getCommentaryText&cid=1&source=1&seq=i.47.18.7
3. Forgiveness
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/index.php?action=getCommentaryText&cid=1&source=1&seq=i.47.18.8