The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Mt 18:21-35
21Peter [approached Jesus
and] asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I
forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. 23That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. 24When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. 25Since
he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of
the debt. 26At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’
27Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. 28When
that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him
a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him,
demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ 29Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. 31Now
when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply
disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. 32His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. 33Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ 34Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. 35So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”
REFLECTION:
I FORGAVE YOU YOUR ENTIRE DEBT. The
parable tells us that, no matter how great and grave our sins are, God
is always willing and ready to forgive. God’s forgiveness is limitless,
without condition and without measure.
At the same time, however, we are asked
to be like God in the way we deal with those who offend or hurt us. If
we refuse to forgive, we will never experience the joy and peace of
God’s forgiveness. As we are ready to forgive, God will be swift to
pardon. As we ask forgiveness from others, God will always be merciful
to forgive us.
Make a list of people whom you will forgive
and from whom you will ask forgiveness.
and from whom you will ask forgiveness.
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