PARABLES OF JESUS - THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT

THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT

This week we continue our walk through the Parables of Jesus. Last week was parable 6 and we discussed the parable of the Lost Sheep and its evangelistic message and took a look at the behavior of the sheep on the shoulder of the shepherd as well as the behavior of the shepherd carrying the sheep. We also discussed how joyful the shepherd was calling not only friends over to celebrate but neighbors as well.

In God’s great mercy, He gave His Son to die in our place. Because we were born in sin (Romans 3:23), we should die for our sins (Romans 6:23). “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance —2 Peter 3:9. When we accept God’s mercy, we must show mercy toward others. Today we discuss that mercy and the parable of the unmerciful servant and the forgiveness of God as well as the question that sparked the parable. So, as we begin, Let Us Pray!

THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT

Matthew 18:21–35 – Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

I. The Picture—vv. 23–27

Let’s start by looking at the question that sparked the parable. In Matthew 18:21 – Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Prior to this Jesus teaches about if your brother sins against you – you go to him and in the concluding verses Jesus tells them what you bind on earth is bound in heaven and what you loose on earth (forgive) it will be loosed in heaven. Then Peter asks this question.

The standard according to most Pharisee’s at the time was 3. In Jewish culture the number 3 represents the unity between extremes, divine wholeness, completeness and perfection.

Peter goes above and beyond the religious leaders. He probably thought he would look super spiritual by saying 7x – or maybe he was concerned with how long we should let sin against us before we say enough is enough.

The number 7 symbolizes completeness, completion – 7 days to create – it is also the most sacred number – the perfect number.

But Jesus responds with, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Double 7’s – double the perfection – never-ending, gets rid of any limits, calculations or keeping track of – there is no record 1 Corinthians 13:5b – love … keeps no record of wrongs

The Jesus lays out and we start with the…

A. Parable—v. 23. God’s kingdom is compared to the relationship between a master and his servant.

The master wanted to settle up his accounts – its time to close the books

Who owes me money?

B. Problem—v. 24. One servant owed 10,000 talents about 375 tons of silver or $3.48 billion

60 million days of work to pay off

C. Punishment—v. 25. Unable to pay the debt, he, his wife and his family were to be sold as slaves.

Smart business deal – sell to someone else so he could get some of his money back

D. Plea—v. 26. The debtor, the man who owed a debt he could not pay asked for mercy

So each person would only have to working 15million days – only 42,250 years and the debt would be paid off.

E. Pardon—v. 27.

The wealthy king showed mercy and forgave the debtor his huge debt.

Forgave – everything – not part of the debt – not most of the debt – he forgave all the debt!

God forgives us from all sin—

Psalm 103:2-3 – Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,

1 John 1:7 – But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

But now there is a problem

II. The Problem—vv. 28–30 – pay attention to the words in the second part of the parable

A. Person—v. 28 – the same man who owed $3.48 billion (600,000 days of labor) and was forgive of everything – every last penny, had a servant who owed him 100 days of labor

The rich king had his servant brought in

This one seized the man and started choking him

Recognize the difference – the mercy and patience with the one who had everything compared to the one who owed everything

B. Plea—v. 29. The debtor pleaded for time to pay his debt.

Both men pleaded for mercy and promised to pay back

The first could never pay back

The second would be able to with time – he had the ability – in one it could be paid off

C. Problem—v. 30. No patience is shown. He easily forgot the forgiveness he had received. The Bible warns us not to forget all the benefits of God—Psalm 103:2 – Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

Christians are to be patient and forgiving—Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children

God forgives and forgets our transgressions. As followers of Christ, we too should forgive and forget – and while we can't technically forget – we can choose to not remember!

III. The Principles—vv. 31–35

A. Sorrow—v. 31. Fellow-servants of the king saw the forgiven man being unforgiving, he was an extremely poor example of the king’s kindness

1 Timothy 4:12b –but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

People are watching even when you don’t think they are watching – what fruit are you producing –

Galatians 5:20 says the works of the flesh are - idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, … and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Paul then goes on to say

Galatians 5:22-26 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Other servants witness the mistreatment and went to the king

B. Shame—vv. 32–34. He is called a “wicked servant” by the master.

Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.

1. The master had shown compassion and forgiveness; the servant did not deal in like manner with his fellow-servant.

2. The wicked servant was punished because of his unforgiving spirit and lack of appreciation – he actually receives the treatment he was giving to his own servant.

The NIV translation says - In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

Remember he was chocking his servant demanding to be repaid

C. Salvation—v. 35. If we forgive, God will forgive us. Note the Lord’s Prayer—

Matthew 6:12 – and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Do we really pray this? Do we really mean this? If we do, how many of our sins are not forgiven?

My debt is paid – Jesus paid it all – am I living it?

How are we treating those who mistreat us? Sin against us? Hurt us? Do wrong to us?

Paul gives us good advice in Galatians 6:1–2 – Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

(1) If a person fails God, you should forgive and restore him. You, too, may fail.

(2) Bear each other’s burdens. A Christian’s love for God can be measured by the way he treats his fellow men. A lack of kindness and mercy shows a lack of God in the life.

As we close today – what is Jesus’ parable to telling us about our own life? Are we like the King who forgives or are we like the unmerciful servant?

Do we treat those who wrong us worse than they treat us or do we love them as God loves us?

Had a recent conversation with someone I love and am close to – they are still hurt and they want to forgive – I was there, I remember telling God those exact words. But we have to remember Matthew 6:12 – and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

We have to mean what we pray –

Anne Lamott said, “Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die.”

Who is someone you have not forgiven? What do you have to do to forgive them?

Let Us Pray!