Matthew 18:21-35

Living Bible

²¹ Then Peter came to him and asked, “Sir, how often should I forgive a brother who sins against me? Seven times?”

²² “No!” Jesus replied, “seventy times seven!

²³ “The Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date. ²⁴ In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him $10 million!$10 million, literally, “10,000 talents.” Approximately £3 million. ²⁵ He couldn’t pay, so the king ordered him sold for the debt, also his wife and children and everything he had.

²⁶ “But the man fell down before the king, his face in the dust, and said, ‘Oh, sir, be patient with me and I will pay it all.’

²⁷ “Then the king was filled with pity for him and released him and forgave his debt.

²⁸ “But when the man left the king, he went to a man who owed him $2,000$2,000, approximately £700. and grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.

²⁹ “The man fell down before him and begged him to give him a little time. ‘Be patient and I will pay it,’ he pled.

³⁰ “But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and jailed until the debt would be paid in full.

³¹ “Then the man’s friends went to the king and told him what had happened. ³² And the king called before him the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil-hearted wretch! Here I forgave you all that tremendous debt, just because you asked me to— ³³ shouldn’t you have mercy on others, just as I had mercy on you?’

³⁴ “Then the angry king sent the man to the torture chamber until he had paid every last penny due. ³⁵ So shall my heavenly Father do to you if you refuse to truly forgive your brothers.”