The Man Who Refused to Forgive

The Man Who Refused to Forgive
Matthew 18:21-35

One day when Jesus was speaking to his disciples, Peter came to him, and said "Lord, how often should I forgive my brother who sins against me? till seven times?"

Jesus said to him, "I say to you, not seven times, but seventy times seven..." and then Jesus told this parable:

"The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king that decided to take account of his servants. and one was brought to him that owed him 10,000 talents (a talent was a unit of money). But because the man did not have enough to pay the king, it was commanded that the man, his wife, his children, and all that he had would be sold and payment would be made.

Therefore the servant fell down and worshipped him saying "Lord, have patience with me and I will repay you all". Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion and let him go and forgave his debt.. (compassion is a mixture of love, sorrow and pity)

But the same servant went out and found one of his fellowservants that owed him 100 pence (another unit of money) and with his hands he grabbed the man by the throat and said "Pay me what you owe me."

And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and pleaded with him saying "have patience with me, and I will pay you all." But the man would not have patience, and he had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt..

So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told the king all that was done. So the king called the servant and said to him, "O you wicked servant. I forgave you all your debt...shouldn't you also have had compassion on your fellowservant even as I had pity on you?

And the king was very angry, and delivered him to the tormentors until he could pay all that was owed to the king.

So in the same way shall by heavenly Father do to you if you from your hearts, do not forgive every of your brothers who sins against you.

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Memory Verse: Matthew 18:35 "so in the same way shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you from your hearts, do not forgive every one of your brothers who sins against you."

Questions:
1 What question did Peter ask the Lord Jesus?
2 In the parable, what did the servant do who was brought before the king?
3 How did the king respond to the servant this first time?
4 What did the servant do to a fellowservant that owed him money?
5 What did the king do to the servant that showed unforgiveness to the fellowservant?
6. What lesson does this teach to us?

Answers:
1 How often should I forgive my brother who sins against me? seven times?
2 he worshipped him and asked him to have patience and he would pay what he owed
3 He had compassion and let him go and forgave his debt.
4 He grabbed him by the throat and ordered him to pay.. when the fellowservant asked for him to have patience, the servant had the fellowservant thrown in prison.
5 He was very angry at the servant because he would not show forgiveness to the fellowservant as the king had done to him and the king had the servant delivered to the tormentors until he could pay what he owed
6. That we should forgive, with our hearts, not just our heads, anyone who sins against us. As God forgive our sins, so we need to forgive them.

Vicki C. Gross/January'05