When We Don’t Forgive, We Look Wicked In God’s Eyes

Emphasis added by SpaniardVIII—Black text

Matthew 18:21-35

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Peter wanted to look merciful in the eyes of his Lord but he still fell short of God’s standards when it came to forgiveness. 

22 “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus said to him, “but 70 times seven. The number that Jesus proposed is a reference to limitless times.

23 For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. Jesus now gives an illustration of what really happens to a person when God forgives him. The king represents Jesus and the slave, us. 

24 When he began to settle accounts, one who owed 10,000 talents was brought before him. One talent was equal to 6,000 denarii. According to Matthew 20:2, one denarius was a day’s wage. The slave’s debt was 60 million denarii which was impossible to pay. The debt represents our sins which is impossible to erase. 

25 Since he had no way to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt. The word “sold” here means to be cast out of God’s presence and end up in hell to pay for our sins. 

26 “At this, the slave fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything!’ 27 Then the master of that slave had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan. When we humble ourselves and cry out to Jesus for mercy and repent, He will forgive all of our debt (sins). 

28 “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’ How would we look in Jesus’ eyes when we won’t forgive someone who has wronged us with something small, while Jesus forgives all of our offenses against Him? 

29 “At this, his fellow slave fell down and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he wasn’t willing. On the contrary, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed. Not to forgive someone their wrong against you is to forget what Jesus did for you. It also shows a lack of maturity and Christlikeness in us when we won’t forgive a friend, a family or a stranger.

31 When the other slaves saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened. Jesus will take notice of your unforgiving heart and will bring your action into account. 

32 “Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Wickedness is seen or manifested in unforgiveness. 

33 Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ The Lord will correct you by the conviction of the Holy Spirit in how wrong you are and will remind you that He forgave your sins which was much more than what that person did to you.

34 And his master got angry and handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed. 35 So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart.” Finally, Jesus finished by warning His disciples and all those who are saved by their message that if we do not forgive, prepare yourselves to be disciplined severely until you are convicted of your sins and repent.