Matthew 18:21-35
Chapter 18
Jesus answered:
“No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Parable About Forgiveness
This story sheds light on the kingdom of Heaven: A king decided to settle accounts with his servants.
One of the first was someone who owed him ten thousand pieces of gold.
Since the man couldn’t repay the debt, the king ordered that he be sold into slavery along with his wife, children, and all his possessions as payment.
The servant knelt before the king and said, ‘Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.’
The king took pity on him and not only freed him but also waived his debt.
When this servant left the king’s presence, he encountered one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred pieces of silver. He seized him by the throat and almost choked him, shouting, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
His fellow servant threw himself at his feet and begged him, ‘Give me time, and I will pay everything.’
But the other disagreed and put him in prison until he paid off all his debt.
Now the king’s servants saw what had happened. They were very upset, so they went and reported everything to their lord.
Then the lord summoned his servant and said, ‘Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed me when you begged me to do so.
Weren’t you supposed to have pity on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?
The lord was now angry. He handed the wicked servant over to be punished until he paid the entire debt.
Jesus added:
“So will my heavenly Father do with you unless you sincerely forgive your brothers and sisters.”
Commentaries
On Forgiveness.
Peace must prevail in the community, either because there are no offenses or because reconciliation is pursued (14). If a community member refuses reconciliation, they will be like a stranger, and those in charge have the right to exclude them as long as they maintain that attitude (cf. 1 Cor 5:5f). The message about forgiveness and reconciliation is reinforced with an instruction on community prayer. The praying community is a special place of the Lord’s presence (cf. 28:20) as long as the conditions and attitudes that Jesus highlighted in the Lord’s Prayer are present.
Parable about Forgiveness.
Jesus responds to Peter’s “arithmetic” question (21) in the same way, moving from a specific number to a larger, undefined one. He clarifies this with a parable that highlights stark contrasts. Revenge was a sacred law in the ancient East, and forgiveness was seen as humiliating, but for Christians, the opposite of revenge is unlimited forgiveness. God offers his grace of forgiveness in an unexpected way, but he withdraws it from narrow-hearted people who refuse to forgive their neighbors. Anyone who has experienced the Father’s mercy cannot go around trying to limit forgiveness and acceptance of their brothers and sisters.