The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

Matthew 18

²¹ Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often _y will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? _z As many as seven times?" ²² Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. ₁

²³ "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished _a to settle accounts with his servants. ₂ ²⁴ When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him _b ten thousand _c talents. ₃ ²⁵ _d And since he could not pay, his master ordered him _e to be sold, with his wife and _f children and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶ So the servant _{4 g} 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 _d forgave him the debt. ²⁸ But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred _h denarii, ₅ 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 _i And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' ³⁴ _j And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, _{6 k} until he should pay all his debt. ³⁵ _l So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother _m from your heart."

1. Cross References
   Matthew 18:15
   If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
   
2. Cross References
   Luke 17:3 - 4
   Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.
   Colossians 3:13
   Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
   
3. Cross References
   Matthew 25:19
   Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
   
4. Cross References
   Esther 3:9
   If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king's business, that they may put it into the king's treasuries.
   
5. Cross References
   Matthew 25:15
   To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
   
6. Cross References
   Luke 7:42
   When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?
   
7. Cross References
   Exodus 21:2
   When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing.
   Leviticus 25:39
   If your brother becomes poor beside you and sells himself to you, you shall not make him serve as a slave:
   
8. Cross References
   2 Kings 4:1
   Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.
   Nehemiah 5:5
   Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.
   
9. Cross References
   Acts 10:25
   When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
   Matthew 8:2
   And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.
   
10. Cross References
    Matthew 18:25
    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.
    
11. Cross References
    Matthew 20:2
    After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius...
    Matthew 22:19
    Show me the coin for the tax." And they brought...
    Mark 6:37
    But he answered them, "You give them something ...
    Mark 14:5
    For this ointment could have been sold for more...
    Luke 7:41
    A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed...
    Luke 10:35
    And the next day he took out two denarii and ga...
    John 6:7
    Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would...
    
12. Cross References
    Matthew 6:12
    And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
    Ephesians 4:32
    Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
    Colossians 3:13
    Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
    1 John 4:11
    Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
    
13. Cross References
    James 2:13
    For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
    
14. Cross References
    Matthew 18:30
    He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.
    Matthew 5:25 - 26
    Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.
    
15. Cross References
    Matthew 6:15
    But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
    Proverbs 21:13
    Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.
    
16. Cross References
    1 Peter 1:22
    Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.
    Romans 6:17
    But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed.