Matthew 18:21-35

The Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” ¹

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! ^[a]

23 Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

24 As he began the settlements, a debtor owing ten thousand talents was brought to him. ^[b]

25 Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.

26 Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’

27 His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.

28 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. ^[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’

29 So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’

30 But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.

31 When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master.

32 Then the master summoned him and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me.

33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’

34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed.

35 That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Cross References

• 1. (Romans 12:14–21)

Footnotes

• [a] Or seventy times seven; see Genesis 4:24 LXX
• [b] A talent was worth about twenty years’ wages for a laborer.
• [c] A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.