The Unmerciful Servant
Forgive As You've Been Forgiven
Matthew 18:21-35about 2 minutes to read aloud
Peter came to Jesus. "Lord, how many times should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?" Jesus answered, "Not seven times, but seventy-seven."
Then Jesus told a story. "A king called in a servant who owed him ten thousand bags of gold. The man could not pay. He fell on his knees. 'Be patient with me.'"
"The king had pity. 'Your debt is forgiven,' he said, and sent the servant home free."
"But that same servant went out and found a fellow servant who owed him a hundred silver coins — a tiny debt. He grabbed him. 'Pay me what you owe.' The other man begged. But the first servant threw him in prison."
"When the king heard, he called the servant back. 'You wicked servant. I forgave your whole debt. Should you not have shown mercy, as I showed you mercy?'"
"This is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you," Jesus said, "unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Questions to talk about
How many times did Jesus tell Peter to forgive?
Show the answer
Jesus said not seven times, but seventy-seven — meaning as many times as it takes.
What did the king do when the servant could not pay?
Show the answer
The king had pity and forgave the full ten thousand bags of gold.
Why was the king angry later?
Show the answer
He had been forgiven a great debt but would not show even a little mercy.
The lesson
The Father has forgiven us a great debt. From a heart that knows that grace, mercy flows to others.
