Matthew 18:21-35

This post is the fourth part of this series on forgiveness.
The first post is here.
The second, a poem, is here.
The third post is here.

Jesus is the Paragon of Sweetness! 

Why does God give us this conversation? In part so that we know we are not alone in our struggles with forgiving others. The first coming of Jesus tells us something about God that we often overlook. The sweetness of God. Consider now the senses that God has given us. Touch, Sight, Smell, Sound, Taste. Do they inform us of the sweet things of life? Absolutely yes! They do more than that. Still, there are times when we should pause and delight in the simple sweetness of a thing.

So too, our spiritual senses – Honor, Love, Awareness, Justness, and Peace. They provide insight. They inform on the sweetness of Jesus as the tender Lord. Consider coming into this text that there is none more tender than Jesus. None more gentle than Jesus. None more patient than Jesus. A scolding tone is not the voice of Jesus. His voice is pregnant with care and empathy, with understanding beyond compare. Jesus is the Paragon of Sweetness!

Question:

What is the point of the Parable of The Unforgiving Servant? This Parable is not as forgiving in that there is nowhere to hide from this question. Consider how The Parable of the Good Samaritan gives the moralist a place to hide. “I need to be a good neighbor.” Muster this up, and you are good to go? That interpretation does not square with the text. As with The Parable of the Good Samaritan, so also here – the point is not moralism. It is Jesus.

Let us key in on the discourse between Peter and Jesus.

The Dialogue

I italicized my comments.

Actual Dialogue With My Commentary

"Lord,
how often will my brother sin against me,
and I forgive him? 
As many as seven times?" 
(Matthew 18:21 ESV)

Seven being the number of completion, it is easy to understand why Peter picks seven as the ideal number. As pointed out in the last post in this series, it is equivocation, and we all do it. We must guard against spiritual equivocation, for it leads to biblical fallacy. 

Jesus said to him,
"I do not say to you seven times,
but seventy-seven times."
(Matthew 18:22 ESV)

Jesus is telling Peter (and us) that he is categorically missing the point. Peter needs clarification as to what forgiveness is. Peter thinks forgiveness’ memory is to keep count. Hence the thresh hold. Once passed, forgiveness has filled its cup, and thus there is no more room. Thus no more forgiveness to offer. 

Jesus takes advantage of the absurdity of Peter’s spiritual math and shows the insanity of it. As he does this, he also points the way for Peter. Peter is stumbling over the Rock of Offense with his question. 

Many people have suffered extreme traumas at the hands of others! They can testify to how offensive this call for forgiveness is. Jesus tells us to pick our cross and follow him. What does Jesus obtain for us on the cross? Forgiveness. How do we know? He bodily rose from the dead. A true wonder indeed. See now that to carry our cross is to pick up the banner of forgiveness with joyful anticipation. 

"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king
who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 
(Matthew 18:23 ESV)

Jesus gives us the context. First – we are discussing the kingdom of Heaven. We are discussing God’s rule and reign. Countless discussions branch from this one reality:

• legal
• moral
• commerce
• unification

Kingdom talk overarches all those things and more. Kingdoms provide culture, meaning, direction, belonging, and understanding. Of all the industries and aspects of governing involved in a kingdom’s existence, Jesus goes to the fundamentals of economics to teach us about forgiveness. 

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. 
(Matthew 18:24-25 ESV)

Ten Thousand Talents!

What question should we be asking about the ten thousand talents? Here is a hint: Peter should ask the same question. If we are to ask the same question as him, then the question is not about the worth of ten thousand talents.

Still, the inner accountant in you wants to know the answer. Okay, inner accountant – how much is your life worth, and everyone dear to you? As you itemize your worth to provide a proper calculation, I will offer the following banter:

A ransom is a testament to a person’s worth. For example, for Jonathan of the Maccabeans, a ransom of 100 talents of silver and two of his sons was the price -A king’s ransom. This man was the leader of his people as they revolted against the global powers seeking to conquer them.

If a king’s ransom is 100 silver talents, how many servants would you pay for a king? “Give us 1000 servants, or we kill the king!” Imagine your favorite precious political leader being captured and ransomed. How many lives are worth saving that one life? How many servants are disposable for a king’s ransom?

Because this servant owes a King’s Ransom, the Ransom of Ransoms, there is no hope of repaying it. It is simply too large of an amount even to comprehend. Upon hearing the number – “Ten Thousand Talents!” – Peter would only have one kind of response. “That is impossible!”

If I could interrupt the conversation, I would attempt to explain Peter’s question to Jesus because Jesus misunderstood the question. Right? Wrong.

Why Do Accountants Keep Track of Their King’s Finances? 

This servant brought to the king in this Parable has no way to pay his debt. The absolute ruin reflects the servant’s utter bankruptcy. The price is so high, so astronomically high, that repayment is impossible. Even if everyone this servant knew contributed with all they were and had, it would not be enough. His family’s doom is sure. 

So the servant fell on his knees,
imploring him,
'Have patience with me,
and I will pay you everything.'
(Matthew 18:26 ESV)

Everyone listening to Jesus knows the servant’s desire to repay his debt is too late. Nevertheless, he does what one who is entirely and utterly desperate does. He begs. As Haman the Agagite begged. No decorum. No shame. Just utter reliance upon the mercy of one who holds all the power. 

It is here that I need to recall Peter’s original question. How much is too much to forgive? When has forgiveness stopped being an option? When does wrath overcome forgiveness for the sake of justice? How can justice stand if forgiveness has no countability? What about things like:

• murder,
• rape,
• kidnapping,
• slavery?

What about things like mutiny against the Kingdom? Sedition? Part of the Rebellion? Are those crimes of such a heinous nature that forgiveness is not an option? The king takes it off the table for felonies of the first degree, right? Wrong.

The jaws of all listening are open, dumbfounded.
And out of pity for him,
the master of that servant released him
and forgave him the debt. 
(Matthew 18:27 ESV)

The king forgives the impossible debt. A debt bigger than most nations’ domestic gross product. Because of the world we live in today, with wealth declared in the trillions for individuals now, this may not seem that impressive. I beg to differ. Consider Elon Musk’s wealth as your debt. It is a more extensive spread than that. 

Now consider Peter, looking at Andrew. Wrong after wrong over the years racing through his mind. His jaw clenched in distressingly unresolved anger. He is hearing Jesus. He is considering his brother. Does Andrew deserve a relationship with Peter? Does Peter want a relationship with Andrew? 

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.' 
(Matthew 18:28 ESV)

Jesus takes a startling turn of events. Is Peter looking at Andrew? His ears tingle at the direction the Parable takes. He turns and begins to gaze at Jesus, trying to understand where this story is going. 

One Hundred Denarii

How much is one hundred Denarii? A day’s labor? One hundred dollars? Less than ten thousand talents. Is a day’s labor a significant debt? It is. However, it is manageable. It is not insurmountable. 

So his fellow servant fell down
and pleaded with him,
'Have patience with me,
and I will pay you.' 
(Matthew 18:29 ESV)

Jesus is making a point about the ability to count a debt. If I can track and count the debts others owe me, then the debt is infinitely smaller than my debt to my king. All that counting tells me is that I have been forgiven so much more. 

Recall that Peter committed categorical confusion in his understanding of forgiveness. Jesus is not only saying he is missing the point but showing the way in the most gentle manner. Consider the difference between the king’s economy and the servant’s economy. They operate with two different understandings of wealth. They have two different commerces. Their bartering power comes from different resources. As such, they have two different dividends. 

He refused
and went
and put him in prison
until he should pay the debt. 
(Matthew 18:30 ESV)

Who is this Parable about? That is the question now. The Parable is about the king’s servant; we can recognize this. Beyond this, who is this Parable about? This Parable is about Peter in his struggle to forgive his brother Andrew. Still beyond that, who is this Parable about? It is about me. I am the unforgiving servant. It is about you. Together, we are unforgiving servants.

Jesus shows us the dividends of the economy where the commerce exchanged between people is the offense. The context is relational. Recall Peter’s question again. It has to do with his relationship with his brother Andrew. The wrongs between brothers can run deep. What, then, is the currency of offense in a relationship? It is the currency of counting. As long as you can keep counting, you have bartering power. 

The dividend is the production of all those notches made in the ledger. The ledger wants the debt paid. The dividend ensures payment never happens. In the heavenly economy of relationships, counting has no place. It is using the wrong language. It is in the wrong context. 

Consider Hell. Do you imagine Hell’s relational economy operates through the currency of counting? What are the results of counting wrongs relationally? Being alone. Not to be known.

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. 
(Matthew 18:31 ESV)

How do I exhibit the forgiveness I have received?

Know that commerce and economy are known to all. There are some things you cannot hide. What does this mean? It means how we live under the banner of forgiveness is evident to those who know us—especially those who know us best. 

Then his master summoned him
and said to him,
'You wicked servant!
I forgave you all that debt
because you pleaded with me.
(Matthew 18:32 ESV)

The king reveals the economy of his Kingdom. Repentance is our marker. “I forgave you because you pleaded with me” = “declared repentance.” 

And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant,
as I had mercy on you?'
(Matthew 18:33 ESV)

The dividend of true repentance is a posture of mercy. What is mercy? Someone not giving you what you deserve, which is a terrible end. Remember the cup. That cup is all I can manage to count. If I count anymore, the numbers overflow the cup, and I have lost count. The economy has crashed. Forgiveness that keeps count is a guaranteed market crash. 

But mercy’s desire and intent is to seek out ledgers full of wrongs. This cup wants to overflow. The overflowing makes you realize that God just performed a miracle. He turns my cup of coins into a spring of water. By definition, a spring is eager to share its wealth, for it overflows. By definition, so too does forgiveness overflow with mercy. 

Recall now that the dividend of keeping count ensures that recompense can never happen. It means to keep the lid placed over the mouth of a cup. The dividend of forgiveness is a spring of mercy. By it, God changes us to his economy. 

And in anger, his master delivered him to the jailers, 
until he should pay all his debt. 
(Matthew 18:34 ESV)

The king delivered the servant over to the servant’s economy. By the servant’s standard, he is judged. As is always the case in this scenario – the debt is impossible to repay the king. The servant can never repay it. 

Only one person in the story can conceivably pay off the servant’s debt. The King. Only he has that kind of wealth — the wealth of forgiveness in an economy whose currency is mercy.

So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you,
if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
(Matthew 18:35 ESV)

Do you see how the answer to Peter’s question is, “You need Jesus?” Read the Gospel of Matthew and ask God to help you understand the context of Matthew 18. In the immediate context, it is apparent from the impossible standard Jesus places upon Peter. The standard is one of perfection.

Remember that Jesus is the Paragon of Sweetness. Consider the economy of Heaven as reflected in this Parable. Consider the way Jesus engages Peter. Consider that Jesus is wholly patient, kind, gentle, and humble. It is not as though Jesus has to make an effort to be these things. He is.

To access the commerce made available by an economy, you must have the correct currency to barter. Mercy first comes from our King. God the Father distributes the currency. It has his fingerprints all over it. If it were a coin, the symbol would point to him. The currency is not a coin; instead, it is mercy. He gives it to us through Jesus.

Consider how this kind of forgiveness informs your spiritual senses.

What do they tell us here about this type of forgiveness? This type of forgiveness honors the source of forgiveness. This kind of forgiveness accounts for the injustices under it by gladly absorbing the cost of those injustices. This kind of forgiveness acknowledges the wrongs done to each of us. Moreover, each of us also wrongs others. Most importantly, we have wronged our king.

This kind of forgiveness does not ask you to sweep pain away but to be swept away in mercy. It is aware of your struggle. It acknowledges the struggle. This kind of forgiveness brings a relationship back to complete wholeness. This kind of forgiveness epitomizes love. Consider how your senses declare the sweetness of forgiveness that can only be found in Jesus.

Jesus is the answer.

I am Iz. I am a follower of Jesus, seeking to understand the world around me. I use my life experiences and struggles as a platform to reach out and help others, offering insight into how faith overcomes any obstacle. I pray my blog will be a beacon of hope for you who face similar challenges. May this be an encouragement to you. 

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