Parables of the Kingdom 4 (2)

Session 4

C.     The Unmerciful Servant

Matthew 18:23-35

INTRODUCTION

Luke 12:48b (ESV)

48 …Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

           Job promotion—when you do current job well. 

                                   Can’t tell boss- promote me and I’ll do better.

           Same with the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 18:23–35 ESV

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 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. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 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.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 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. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

I.         Accepting God’s Grace (23-27)

Matthew 18:23–27 ESV

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 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. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

           A.       U.S. Debt today= $13.7 Trillion

                       1.       10,000 Talents=

                                   a.        Talents= largest denomination in ancient money.

                                   b.       10,000 largest number ancient mind-set could have conceived.

           B.       Settling Accounts= judgment

                       1.       Selling people into slavery= common in ancient world.        

                       2.       Man begs for mercy and makes promise he can’t keep.

                       3.       King shows pity- This would have surprised audience.

                                   a.        It would have been seen as a sign of weakness.

                                   b.       “Took Pity”= compassion (9:36;14:14; 15:32; 20:34)

II.       Showing God’s Grace (28-31)

Matthew 18:23–31 ESV

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 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. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 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.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 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.

           A.       It is our responsibility to show the same grace. (forgive)

           B.       This servant refused to show mercy.

                       1.       Choke= grabbing neck was allowed in Roman law—

                                  a.        Way to show superiority and belittle another.

                                   b.       Took away a person’s dignity.

                       1.       “Pay back what you owe me!” = lit. “if you owe me.”

                                   a.        He is not even certain of debt.

                                   b.       Not confident of what is owed—but wants it NOW!

           C.       “He refused” = lit. he was not willing.

                       1.       Conscience decision to harden his heart.

                       2.       He refused to give same consideration he was given.

III.      Paying for God’s Grace (32-35)

Matthew 18:32–35 ESV

32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

           A.       Only have to pay when it is not accepted and shared.

                       1.       Eph 2:8,

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

                       2.       Accepted= accept salvation.

                       3.       Shared= fruit of a changed life (seed and sower)

           B.       Penitence= pay for your crime.

                       1.       Prison= amount of time needed to pay for crime.

                       2.       Death Penalty= when no amount of prison time will pay.

                       3.       Here—“tortured until he should pay back all he owed”

                                   a.        Never would be able to repay all he owed.

                                   b.       This is the state we are in because of sin.

                                   c.        Pergatory is not taught here.

                                               (1)      It is clear that it could never be paid.

                                               (2)      Prison work can’t pay Trillions in debt.

                                               (3)      Hell can never repay our sin debt.

           C.       Carson, “Jesus sees no incongruity in the actions of a heavenly Father who forgives so bountifully and punishes so ruthlessly, and neither should we. Indeed, it is precisely because he is a God of such compassion and mercy that he cannot possibly accept as his those devoid of compassion and mercy.”

           D.       God makes forgiveness available for everyone, but only those who appropriate it by a life of forgiving others show that they have genuinely accepted his pardon.

                       1.       Matthew 6:14-15

Matthew 6:14–15 ESV

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

                       2.       Matthew 7:21-23

Matthew 7:21–23 ESV

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

CONCLUSION

           Our unwillingness to forgive others causes all kinds of personal problems.

                       We must forgive others. We are Christians.

                       James 4:11-12 - true faith does not hold grudges with other people.

James 4:11–12 ESV

11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

                       1 Corinthians 13:5, “love keeps no record of wrongs”