Forgiveness

²¹ Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, ^(A)how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to ^(B)seven times?” ²² Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to ^(C)seventy times seven.

²³ “For this reason ^(D)the kingdom of heaven ^[a]may be compared to a king who wished to ^(E)settle accounts with his slaves. ²⁴ When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand ^[b]talents was brought to him. ²⁵ But since he ^[c](F)did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him ^(G)to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. ²⁶ Therefore, the slave fell to the ground and ^(H)was prostrating himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ ²⁷ And feeling compassion, the lord of that slave released him and ^(I)forgave him the ^[d]debt. ²⁸ But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred ^[e]denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ ²⁹ So, his fellow slave fell to the ground and was pleading with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ ³⁰ But he was unwilling ^[f]and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. ³¹ So, when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. ³² Then summoning him, his lord *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ^33 (J)Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. ^35 (K)My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your hearts.”