“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses”
(Matthew 18:35 NKJV)

forgive others

This concluding verse to a parable issues a stern warning to all who hold grudges, reject reconciliation, or refuse to forgive someone who has sinned against them.

The setting features Peter’s question: “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21). How generous of Peter, not only to provide a possible answer to his own question, but to agree to a rather large number of second chances that he is willing to give his offender.

Jesus’ answer must have come as a colossal shock: “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22). It’s pretty easy to do the math (seventy times seven is four hundred ninety), but another thing altogether to forgive the same person this many times. The parable that follows the math gives the explanation.

A servant who owed the king 10,000 talents begged for mercy. He promised that if he were given more time (patience) he could raise the money and set things straight (verses 23-26). Incredibly, the king forgave him and released him from the debt (Matthew 18:27).

Even more incredible, this man who had received such grace went and found a fellow servant who owed him 100 denarii — a piddling month’s wages (Matthew 18:28). He demanded payment. When his fellow servant fell at his feet and begged him for patience (as he had done, using his own words, verse 26) he refused and exacted the very punishment from which the king pardoned him (Matthew 18:29).

When the king learned of his subject’s cruelty, he said to him, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?” (Matthew 18:33). His master delivered him to the torturers until he paid the entire debt (Matthew 18:34).

We do not know what effect this answer had on Peter, but each of us would do well to read our memory verse again and again!

– Rick Duggin