INSPIRED BY THE PARABLE IN THE BOOK OF MATTHEW 18:23-35
In Matthew 18:23-25, the Lord Jesus Christ delivers a parable of a forgiving King with an unforgiving servant.
The king’s servant was an inveterate loan seeker with a consistent habit of staying delinquent in the payments of all his loans while accumulating a debt of over 10 million dollars, which the king was now asking for in full. The threat of his wife and kids sold as slaves; his possessions being put up for auction; and his life set in an everlasting dark mice-infested prison cell, was now hanging in the balance. But the servant, trembling with fear, fell before the face of the king, and with a heartfelt, tearful cry, pleaded, “Lord, grant me a little more time, and I will pay all.” And the king, looking with pity upon the distresses of his servant, chose to forgive him the entire debt with no further payments.
This same servant, however, with his newfound freedom; departed full of excitement and extreme delight, but forgot to take some gratitude and appreciation along with him. Immediately after departing from the king, he identified a co-worker who owed him about $100. He demanded payment on the spot. The co-worker pleaded for mercy in the same manner the servant pleaded before the king, but to no avail. He was merciless! And calling for the officers of the Kingdom, made a citizen’s arrest, causing his co-worker to be thrown in jail until the debt could be paid.
Meanwhile, the other co-workers confronted that servant, questioning his lack of mercy. And that servant most likely responded by saying, “Keep to your own business! The joker owes me! And I don’t need to hear any reminders of how the king forgave me. The king has plenty of money. In fact, with all that money he has, he should have forgiven me a long time ago… If I had money like that, I could forgive too. But I don’t! And I need that joker to pay up!
When the king forgave me the debt, I had no money. And when I left his presence, I was still broke. But the king got plenty. So it’s nothing for him to forgive me. He has no clue what it’s like to be poor like me. So I don’t need any of you to lecture me with your supercilious pious hogwash! I need my money! And that’s all there is to it!”
NOTE:
This servant claimed to be poor yet accumulated a 10 million dollar debt. This reveals that the idea of what is “rich” and what is “poor” is totally in the eyes of the beholder.
His colleagues had a different perspective on the matter, viewing the king as exceedingly merciful, unlike the servant who had seemingly forgotten what it was like to be in a similar position. The servant failed to acknowledge how close he had been to losing everything and the severity of his actions. Little did he realize that the repercussions of his behavior were leading him toward a catastrophic destiny.
His colleagues decided to bring the issue to the attention of the king. Upon learning of the unfortunate situation, the king summoned the servant back to the court. Despite knowing that his coworkers had reported him, the servant remained unfazed. He was confident that the king would uphold his original decision. “If the king has already pardoned my debt,” he reassured himself quietly, ” he will not retract his decision. The king’s word is final. I trust that the king will empathize with my circumstances…”
However, the servant neglected to examine the full extent of the law. According to the law, if the king pardons any subject’s debt, that subject must forgive all debts owed to them by others. This principle is justifiable – why should those forgiven by the king be allowed to demand repayment from their debtors if they can’t settle their debts to the king? All debts collected from their debtors would have, ultimately, been claimed by the king to cover the forgiven debts. Moreover, the law stipulates that if a forgiven individual refuses to release their debtors from their obligations, the pardon would be revoked, and all debts must be settled immediately.
After being brought before the king by the guards, the servant found himself in a troubling situation. Despite knowing the king’s reputation for mercy and forgiveness, the servant was unrepentant for his actions. Sensing the lack of remorse, the King made a shocking decision that sent shivers down the servant’s spine. In a cruel twist of fate, the king ordered the servant to be sent to the torturers, words that the servant dreaded and had managed to evade for so long. It was a grim and haunting punishment that the servant could not escape.
The man was so stunned by these five words that he couldn’t muster the strength to prostrate himself before the king and plead for mercy as he had done before. In that moment, his life flashed before his eyes, recalling the happiness his family had experienced as debt-free citizens of the kingdom. They had the chance for a fresh start, free from the torment of prison life. However, all of that came crashing down with one fateful decision. This choice meant his children would grow up without a father, his wife would become a widow, and his peace and happiness would be lost forever. It all boiled down to his refusal to release his debtor after mercifully being released himself.
What would you do?…… It may not be the money someone owes you, but they owe you something….. What would you do? ……. Will you be Ruthless as the Servant?….. or… Merciful as the King?
Note:
Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
