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Matthew 18:21-35

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

²³ “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 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. ²⁶ So the servant 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 forgave him the debt. ²⁸ 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.’ 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 Wasn’t it necessary that you should have mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. ³⁵ So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Peter isn’t being stingy when he asks Jesus if he should forgive his neighbor seven times. Imagine having a relative who has been addicted to drugs, but he comes to you and says, “I’m getting my life in order. I’m done getting high. I’ve got a job. Can you loan me $750 for the security deposit on this apartment?” You loan him the money but before the weekend comes, he’s been arrested, again, for drugs, again, and kicked out of his apartment, again.

He gets out, and says, “Ok this time, I mean it. I’m getting my life together. I just need a security deposit for a new apartment.” Does he even get to finish his speech? Do you loan him another $750? How about when he asks a third time? You probably don’t do it seven times like Peter benevolently suggests. And it is pure insanity to do it seventy-seven times like Jesus says.

We are just like Peter. We know that we should be forgiving, and maybe we even want to be forgiving. But deep down we also want to know, we need to know, what the limits are. When can I quit being nice? When do I finally get justice? When can I stop loving my neighbor?

The whole point of the parable is that neither Peter, nor the servant, nor you, nor I can forgive someone enough times to say, “I’ve done all I need to with regard to forgiveness. Check that off my list.” The point of the parable is that the king, God, wants to settle accounts by forgiveness not by collection.

Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.” Notice, Jesus does not say, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to collect what was owed him by his debtors.” Immediately, there is a clue of what is going to happen. The king wants clean books, zero balances.

When a debtor comes who owes 10,000 talents… Now, a talent isn’t an exact sum of money. Sometimes, one talent can mean 20 years’ wages for a laborer meaning this owes 200,000 years’ worth of work. Sometimes a talent means 75 lbs. of gold (I checked Thursday, 75 lbs. of gold was just under $1.5M, so take that times 10,000). When someone owes you 10,000 talents, that massive amount of debt, how are you going to settle the account?

It’s clear that nothing can be done to get this account to zero. The guy doesn’t have the money. Even if he, his wife, his children, his house, and everything he has are sold, it doesn’t make a dent. So the man falls on his knees and asks – for patience. But patience wouldn’t do this servant any good; a thousand lifetimes isn’t enough time. And patience doesn’t do the king any good; he wants the accounts settled.

So instead of patience, the king gives mercy. The debt is forgiven. The servant is declared to be out of the red and into the black. In other words, the king pays the debt for him.

The servant, let’s call him Vinnie, leaves. And, instead of being filled with gratitude and joy, he sees Chuck, his buddy, who owed him 100 denarii. A denarius was a day’s wage, so we’re talking about 3 months’ wages (say between $10 – $15 thousand). With his hands around Chuck’s throat, Vinnie demands that Chuck pay up. Chuck asks for patience, just like Vinnie had. And even though Vinnie had just received mercy for this impossible debt, Vinnie doesn’t give Chuck the very thing he requested from the king. Not even patience.

How could this happen? How is it possible? Well, Vinny didn’t appreciate the mercy that had been given to him. He didn’t see what he received was merciful. He didn’t think he really had a debt. He thought his situation was still manageable. In his mind, given enough time and patience, he would have gotten it together on his own. Vinnie would have probably said that the king was a good guy, but little more. In Vinnie’s mind, his freedom and righteousness were his own, a product of his doing – or at least they would have been. He would have paid.

This parable, because it is arguably the epitome of parables showing the nature and character of God’s grace and mercy, contains a dire warning for us.

In the kingdom of God, you are beggars. You were guilty and could not dig your way out no matter how much time you were given. Even more, you were dead, and how do dead people pay bills? You and I, we need mercy. And in Christ, mercy is exactly what we have. Because of Christ’s payment on the cross, we have been declared innocent, alive, beloved.

Never say, “I can’t forgive him/her for what they did.” Don’t say that. At least, be honest, “I don’t want to forgive him/her for what they did.” Then, you can confess your sin of unforgiveness.

Also this parable reminds us (just as we were reminded in our Epistle lesson (Ro. 14:1-12) that each one of us will give an account of ourselves to God (v. 12). So, ask yourself, “What am I doing with what God has given me?” What has God given me? Think about it. Life. Planet to live on. House. Family. Health (even if it ain’t what you wish it is). Knowledge. Food. Mercy. Forgiveness. Reconciliation with Himself.

Now flip the question: What do I have that God has not given me? And really think about this: God the Father who created you, God the Son who redeemed you, and God the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you, what do you have that you haven’t received from Him? Sin.

And God has taken that from you. He’s stolen it. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world bore your sin on the cross that you might die to sin and live to righteousness (Jn. 1:29, 1 Pet. 2:24).

So, what are we to do? Should we not have mercy on our neighbor as God has had mercy upon us (Mt. 18:33)? How about our congregation? How can we be a beacon in this community of the mercy of Christ the King? Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.