IntroductionIntroduction• Context of the parable:Context of the parable:– Jesus told disciples that the greatest Jesus told disciples that the greatest

is humble like a child is humble like a child (v. 1-5)(v. 1-5)

–Warns of causing offenses Warns of causing offenses (v. 6-9)(v. 6-9)

– Tells of the value of one soul and His Tells of the value of one soul and His mission to seek & save the lost mission to seek & save the lost (v. (v. 10-14)10-14)

– Teaches how to deal with a sinning Teaches how to deal with a sinning brother brother (v. 15-20)(v. 15-20)

IntroductionIntroduction• Context of the parable:Context of the parable:–Parable spoken by Christ in answer to Parable spoken by Christ in answer to

Peter’s question about forgiveness Peter’s question about forgiveness (v. (v. 21-22)21-22)• Peter asked how often must I forgivePeter asked how often must I forgive• Thought 7 times was generousThought 7 times was generous

– Jesus said to forgive 70 X 7 (unlimited)Jesus said to forgive 70 X 7 (unlimited)

• Lack of forgiveness is a prevalent sin Lack of forgiveness is a prevalent sin among Christians.among Christians.

The parable statedThe parable stated• King settles accounts with King settles accounts with

servants servants (v. 23)(v. 23)

• One servant owed 10,000 One servant owed 10,000 talents talents (v. 24)(v. 24)

10,000 talents10,000 talents• 1 Talent = 100 pounds.1 Talent = 100 pounds.• If gold:If gold:–$1379 per ounce; 16 ounces = 1 $1379 per ounce; 16 ounces = 1

pound.pound.–$22,064 per pound.$22,064 per pound.–1 talent (100 lbs) = $2,206,400.1 talent (100 lbs) = $2,206,400.–Total owed: Total owed: • 10,000 talents = $22,064,000,000 (billion)10,000 talents = $22,064,000,000 (billion)

The parable statedThe parable stated• King commanded King commanded (v. 25)(v. 25)::–Servant be soldServant be sold–Servant’s wife to be soldServant’s wife to be sold–Servant’s children to be soldServant’s children to be sold–Everything he owned to be soldEverything he owned to be sold

• Servant begged for Servant begged for mercy mercy (v. 26-27)(v. 26-27)

• Said, “I will pay you Said, “I will pay you all”all”

• Servant said he would Servant said he would pay all debt – pay all debt – impossible!impossible!

• The king had The king had compassion; forgave compassion; forgave debtdebt

The parable statedThe parable stated

• Forgiven servant Forgiven servant found a fellow found a fellow servant who servant who owed him 100 owed him 100 denarii denarii (v. 28)(v. 28)

• Took him by Took him by throatthroat

• ““Pay me what Pay me what you owe!”you owe!”

• Owed $7,000Owed $7,000

The parable statedThe parable stated

• Debtor begged Debtor begged for mercy for mercy (v. (v. 29)29)

• No mercy No mercy shown; cast into shown; cast into prison prison (v. 30)(v. 30)

• Fellow servants Fellow servants told the king told the king (v. 31)(v. 31)

The parable statedThe parable stated

• Unforgiving servant Unforgiving servant brought to king brought to king (v. (v. 32)32)

• The king called the The king called the servant “wicked”servant “wicked”

• Should have followed Should have followed my example of my example of compassion compassion (v. 33)(v. 33)

• Servant sent to be Servant sent to be tortured tortured (v. 34)(v. 34)

The parable statedThe parable stated

Lessons from the parableLessons from the parable

1.1. The debtor represents us.The debtor represents us.–Man has sinned against God, Man has sinned against God,

ROMANS 3:23ROMANS 3:23

Lessons from the parableLessons from the parable

1.1. The debtor represents us.The debtor represents us.–Man has sinned against God, Man has sinned against God, ROMANS ROMANS

3:233:23

–Man’s debt great; payment impossible!Man’s debt great; payment impossible!

–God’s grace makes it possible to have God’s grace makes it possible to have our sin debt forgivenour sin debt forgiven

– Jesus makes it possible, Jesus makes it possible, EPHESIANS EPHESIANS 2:8-92:8-9

Lessons from the parableLessons from the parable

2. The merciful king represents 2. The merciful king represents GodGod

–The king was touched by the The king was touched by the misfortune of the debtor; forgave misfortune of the debtor; forgave him him (v. 27)(v. 27)

–God forgives us when we obey God forgives us when we obey Him, Him, HEBREWS 5:8-9HEBREWS 5:8-9

Lessons from the parableLessons from the parable

2. The merciful king represents God2. The merciful king represents God–The king was touched by the misfortune The king was touched by the misfortune

of the debtor; forgave him of the debtor; forgave him (v. 27)(v. 27)

–God forgives us WHEN we obey Him, God forgives us WHEN we obey Him, HEBREWS 5:8-9HEBREWS 5:8-9

–The conditions of pardon are the SAME The conditions of pardon are the SAME to every person of age, to every person of age, Romans 2:11 Romans 2:11 (no partiality with God)(no partiality with God)

Lessons from the parableLessons from the parable

3. Forgiveness of God conditional 3. Forgiveness of God conditional on our forgiving otherson our forgiving others

–Contrast treatment received vs. Contrast treatment received vs. given:given:

• Was forgiven $22,064,000,000Was forgiven $22,064,000,000• Refused to forgive $7000Refused to forgive $7000

–We will not be forgiven if don’t We will not be forgiven if don’t forgive, forgive, MATTHEW 6:14-15MATTHEW 6:14-15

MATTHEW 6:14-15 MATTHEW 6:14-15

"For if you forgive men "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also heavenly Father will also forgive you. (15) But if forgive you. (15) But if you do not forgive men you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive will your Father forgive your trespasses.”your trespasses.”

Lessons from the parableLessons from the parable3. Forgiveness of God conditional on 3. Forgiveness of God conditional on

our forgiving othersour forgiving others

–Contrast treatment received vs. given:Contrast treatment received vs. given:

• Was forgiven $22,064,000,000Was forgiven $22,064,000,000• Refused to forgive $3,000Refused to forgive $3,000

–We will not be forgiven if don’t We will not be forgiven if don’t forgive, forgive, MATTHEW 6:14-15MATTHEW 6:14-15

–Many, even Christians, like the servantMany, even Christians, like the servant

Lessons from the parableLessons from the parable

• We will go to hell if we do not We will go to hell if we do not forgive forgive (v. 34-35)(v. 34-35)

Lessons from the parableLessons from the parable• We will go to hell if we do not We will go to hell if we do not

forgive forgive (v. 34-35)(v. 34-35)

• When we do not forgive, others When we do not forgive, others control our lives & thoughts.control our lives & thoughts.

• We should forgive because it makes We should forgive because it makes us like God.us like God.

• We cannot worship properly until we We cannot worship properly until we forgive others, forgive others, MATTHEW 5:23-24MATTHEW 5:23-24

• We cannot afford to be cast into We cannot afford to be cast into eternal tormenteternal torment

• We must forgive as God forgave usWe must forgive as God forgave us

• Are you harboring an unforgiving Are you harboring an unforgiving spirit?spirit?

• Have you received the forgiveness of Have you received the forgiveness of sins available to you through Jesus? sins available to you through Jesus?

GOD’S SIMPLE PLAN FOR SALVATION

hearhearbelievebelieve

repentrepentconfessconfess

baptismbaptismACTS 3:22ACTS 3:22

JN. 6:29JN. 6:29

LK. 13:3LK. 13:3

JN. 12:42JN. 12:42

1 PET. 3:211 PET. 3:21Rev. 2:10Rev. 2:10