Introduction
• Context of the parable:
– Jesus told disciples that the greatest is
humble like a child (v. 1-5)
– Warns of causing offenses (v. 6-9)
– Tells of the value of one soul and His
mission to seek & save the lost (v. 10-14)
– Teaches how to deal with a sinning
brother (v. 15-20)
Introduction
• Context of the parable:
– Parable spoken by Christ in answer to
Peter’s question about forgiveness (v.
21-22)
• Peter asked how often must I forgive
• Thought 7 times was generous
– Jesus said to forgive 70 X 7 (unlimited)
• Lack of forgiveness is a prevalent sin
among Christians.
The parable stated
• King settles accounts with servants
(v. 23)
• One servant owed 10,000 talents
(v. 24)
10,000 talents
• 1 Talent = 100 pounds.
• If gold:
– $1379 per ounce; 16 ounces = 1 pound.
– $22,064 per pound.
– 1 talent (100 lbs) = $2,206,400.
– Total owed:
• 10,000 talents = $22,064,000,000 (billion)
The parable stated
• King commanded (v. 25):
– Servant be sold
– Servant’s wife to be sold
– Servant’s children to be sold
– Everything he owned to be sold
The parable stated
• Servant begged for
mercy (v. 26-27)
• Said, “I will pay you all”
• Servant said he would
pay all debt –
impossible!
• The king had
compassion; forgave
debt
The parable stated
• Forgiven servant
found a fellow
servant who owed
him 100 denarii
(v. 28)
• Took him by throat
• “Pay me what you
owe!”
• Owed $7,000
The parable stated
• Debtor begged
for mercy (v. 29)
• No mercy shown;
cast into prison
(v. 30)
• Fellow servants
told the king
(v. 31)
The parable stated
• Unforgiving servant
brought to king (v. 32)
• The king called the
servant “wicked”
• Should have followed
my example of
compassion (v. 33)
• Servant sent to be
tortured (v. 34)
Lessons from the parable
1. The debtor represents us.
– Man has sinned against God, ROMANS
3:23
Lessons from the parable
1. The debtor represents us.
– Man has sinned against God, ROMANS
3:23
– Man’s debt great; payment impossible!
– God’s grace makes it possible to have
our sin debt forgiven
– Jesus makes it possible, EPHESIANS 2:89
Lessons from the parable
2. The merciful king represents God
– The king was touched by the misfortune
of the debtor; forgave him (v. 27)
– God forgives us when we obey Him,
HEBREWS 5:8-9
Lessons from the parable
2. The merciful king represents God
– The king was touched by the misfortune
of the debtor; forgave him (v. 27)
– God forgives us WHEN we obey Him,
HEBREWS 5:8-9
– The conditions of pardon are the SAME
to every person of age, Romans 2:11 (no
partiality with God)
Lessons from the parable
3. Forgiveness of God conditional on
our forgiving others
– Contrast treatment received vs. given:
• Was forgiven $22,064,000,000
• Refused to forgive $7000
– We will not be forgiven if don’t forgive,
MATTHEW 6:14-15
MATTHEW 6:14-15
"For if you forgive men
their trespasses, your
heavenly Father will also
forgive you. (15) But if
you do not forgive men
their trespasses, neither
will your Father forgive
your trespasses.”
Lessons from the parable
3. Forgiveness of God conditional on
our forgiving others
– Contrast treatment received vs. given:
• Was forgiven $22,064,000,000
• Refused to forgive $3,000
– We will not be forgiven if don’t forgive,
MATTHEW 6:14-15
– Many, even Christians, like the servant
Lessons from the parable
• We will go to hell if we do not forgive
(v. 34-35)
And his master was angry, and
delivered him to the torturers until
he should pay all that was due to
him. "So My heavenly Father also
will do to you if each of you, from
his heart, does not forgive his
brother his trespasses."
Lessons from the parable
• We will go to hell if we do not forgive
(v. 34-35)
• When we do not forgive, others
control our lives & thoughts.
• We should forgive because it makes
us like God.
• We cannot worship properly until we
forgive others, MATTHEW 5:23-24
Therefore if you bring your gift to
the altar, and there remember that
your brother has something against
you, leave your gift there before the
altar, and go your way. First be
reconciled to your brother, and then
come and offer your gift.
• We cannot afford to be cast into
eternal torment
• We must forgive as God forgave us
• Are you harboring an unforgiving
spirit?
• Have you received the forgiveness of
sins available to you through Jesus?
GOD’S SIMPLE PLAN FOR SALVATION
Rev. 2:10
1 PET. 3:21
JN. 12:42
LK. 13:3
JN. 6:29
baptism
confess
ACTS 3:22
repent
believe
hear