The Unmerciful Servant
THE PARABLE OF THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT
Matthew 18:23-35
Introduction: The parable on this occasion was prompted by a question asked by Peter. In turn, Peter’s question was prompted by the lesson taught by the Lord concerning “If thy brother shall trespass against thee...” (Mt. 18:15-20). After hearing this instruction, Peter raises the question, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?”
Peter’s question, especially his choice of the number 7, shows that he was familiar with Rabbinical teaching along this line, and expected Jesus to be more anxious to forgive than the Rabbis. The prevalent number of times to forgive a man was three, based upon a faulty interpretation of Amos’ language in his denunciations upon the nations: “For three transgressions, yea for four, I will not turn away the punishment...”
Peter, by more than doubling the number of times one should forgive a person, was being very gracious indeed. Imagine his surprise when Jesus said, “Until seventy times seven.” (490) Of course, this number should not be taken literally, for it is meant to simply represent that we should be ready and willing to forgive a brother any time he repents and asks for such.
Notice now the lesson from the parable:
I. The Parable
A. The King and His Servants (23, 24).
1. Thought by some to be taken from the familiar scene of the King who is taking account of his tax revenues, calling the officers in charge of such to give an account.
2. This view would help explain the huge sum which was owed.
a. A talent of gold would be worth about $1000; thus ten thousand talents would be a debt of ca. $10,000,000!
b. Compare other Biblical records of talents:
(1) 29 talents of gold were used in the construction of the tabernacle. (Ex. 38:24).
(2) 3000 talents of gold were prepared for the temple by David, and the princes prepared another 5000 talents (1 Chron. 29:4-7).
(3) The Queen of Sheba gave Solomon 120 talents (1 Kings 10:10).
(4) Hezekiah was taxed 30 talents by the King of Assyria (2 Kings 18:14).
B. The punishment demanded. (v. 25)
1. While this sounds extremely cruel to us, this was the common method of dealing with debtors!
2. Notice:
a. The Law of Moses permitted the sale of a debtor into slavery (Lev. 25:39), and Ex. 22:3 at least causes one to think that his family also came into bondage with him.
b. Roman law operated on the theory that a man’s family was part of his property, and
thus could be sold to pay a debt.
c. Oriental monarchies (such as the Greek & Persian) were even more harsh in their
treatment of debtors.
C. The Debtor’s Plea for Patience.
1. The servant’s assurance of full payment is an example of the kind of promises men will
often make when in dire circumstances.
2. Probably the King and servant both realized that such a sum would never be re-paid!
3. “When words corresponding to these (‘I will pay thee all,’ KWB) find utterance from a sinner’s lips in the first conviction of his sin, they testify that he has not yet attained to a full insight into his relations with God; but has still much to learn; and this chiefly, that no future obedience can make up for past disobedience; since that future obedience God claims for his own, and as nothing more than his due. It could not, therefore, even were there no fault in it...make compensation for the defects of the past; and in this ‘I will pay thee all,’ we must detect the voice of self—righteousness, imagining that, if only time were allowed, it could make all past short—comings good.” (Trench, p.155).
D. The Kings s Compassion and Forgiveness.
1. The law was entirely upon the King’s side.
2. The King had every right to follow through with his threat.
3. The King, no doubt, realized the impossibility of repayment.
4. Yet, in spite of all of this, the King “was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.”
E. The Servant’s Subsequent Action.
1. He found himself in the position previously occupied by the King.
2. A “fellow—servant” (both serving the same master) owed him 100 pence.
3. The difference between the debts would be ca. $10,000,000 as opposed to $17.00!
4. “...this sum is so small, ‘an hundred pence,’ as the other had been so large, ‘ten thousand talents,’ to signify how little any man can offend against his brother, compared with that which every man has offended against God...”(Trench, p. 157).
5. He refuses to hear the petition for mercy (vv. 29,30), but instead demands justice, “he cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.”
F. The Kings s Displeasure.
1. The fellow servants are sorry, for they realize that the sinfulness exhibited by the unmerciful one could be exhibited by them.
2. The King is wroth, angry, because of the unjustness, the lack of mercy.
3. The sentence: delivered to the “tormentors” until the huge debt was paid!
II. The Lesson (v. 35)
A. “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” (v. 35)
B. Matthew 6:12 - In the disciples prayer, Jesus taught them to pray, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
1. Of all that Jesus taught in that prayer, the one point which he chose to emphasize was this statement (Mt. 6:l4, 15).
2. “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
3. “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
C. Matthew 7:2 - “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
D. James 2:13 - “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”
E. Matthew 5:7 — “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
Conclusion: The parable serves as a vivid example of the great importance placed upon mercy and forgiveness, and how ugly we must appear before God when we harbor enmity against a brother or sister who asks our forgiveness!