Matthew 18:21-35

New Testament for Everyone

The challenge of forgiveness

²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus.

“Master,” he said, “how many times must I forgive my brother when he sins against me? As many as seven times?”

²² “I wouldn’t say seven times,” replied Jesus. “Why not—seventy times seven?

²³ “So, you see,” he went on, “the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle up accounts with his servants. ²⁴ As he was beginning to sort it all out, one man was brought before him who owed ten thousand talents. ²⁵ He had no means of paying it back, so the master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and everything he possessed, and payment to be made.

²⁶ “So the servant fell down and prostrated himself before the master.

“ ‘Be patient with me,’ he said, ‘and I’ll pay you everything!’

²⁷ “The master was very sorry for the servant, and let him off. He forgave him the loan.

²⁸ “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred dinars. He seized him and began to throttle him. ‘Pay me back what you owe me!’ he said.

²⁹ “The colleague fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I’ll pay you!’

³⁰ “But he refused, and went and threw him into prison until he could pay the debt.

³¹ “So when his fellow-servants saw what had happened, they were very upset. They went and informed their master about the whole affair. ³² Then his master summoned him.

“ ‘You’re a scoundrel of a servant!’ he said to him. ‘I let you off the whole debt, because you begged me to. ³³ Shouldn’t you have taken pity on your colleague, like I took pity on you?’

³⁴ “His master was angry, and handed him over to the torturers, until he had paid the whole debt. ³⁵ And that’s what my heavenly father will do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother or sister from your heart.”