The Story: The Two Debts

Jesus told this parable after Peter asked, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" (Matthew 18:21). Jesus responded with this story to show that the answer is not seven, but unlimited.

• The King and the First Servant: A king decided to settle accounts with his servants. One servant was brought forward who owed a staggering amount: ten thousand talents. This debt was so huge it was practically unpayable—it would take thousands of lifetimes to earn. Because the servant had nothing to pay, the king commanded that the servant, his wife, children, and all his property be sold. The servant begged for patience, and the king, moved by compassion, freely canceled the entire debt.

• The Unmerciful Act: After being set free from this impossible debt, that same servant immediately found a fellow servant who owed him a very small amount: one hundred denarii (a few months’ wages). The first servant grabbed the second by the throat and demanded payment. When the second servant begged for patience, the first servant refused and had him thrown into prison until the small debt was paid.

• The King’s Anger: Other servants reported the unforgivable cruelty to the king. The king, furious, called the first servant back and said, "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?" The king then withdrew his forgiveness and had the wicked servant tortured until he could pay his original, massive debt.

I. The Core Lesson: The Size of Your Debt

The entire meaning of the parable hinges on the contrast in the two debts:

• The Ten Thousand Talents (Your Sin against God): This represents the depth and severity of your sin against a holy God. It is an unpayable, infinite, eternal debt that you could never earn or work off. Through Jesus Christ, God canceled the entire debt out of mercy.

• The One Hundred Denarii (Offenses against You): This represents any wrong or hurt a person has committed against you. Compared to the debt Christ paid for you, these offenses are incredibly small and manageable.

Jesus’s question to the unmerciful servant is His question to us: Since you have been forgiven the great debt, how can you refuse to forgive the small debt?

II. The Character Trait: Forgiveness from the Heart

This parable teaches that true conversion is demonstrated by genuine, heartfelt mercy.

1. Forgiveness is Not Optional

Jesus makes it clear that the evidence of having truly received God’s forgiveness is the willingness to extend it to others. If a person claims God has forgiven them but refuses to forgive a person who has wronged them, it suggests they never truly grasped the magnitude of their own sin or the immensity of God’s grace.

"So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." (Matthew 18:35)

2. The Command to Release

To forgive means to release the person from the debt they owe you. You are choosing to pay the cost of the offense yourself, just as Jesus paid the cost of your sin on the cross. It is an act of the will, not an emotion. You can forgive someone even if they do not ask for it or deserve it.

Applying the Truth Today

This parable gives you a powerful mandate: Because you have received mercy, you must now become an agent of mercy. Forgiveness is the first and most fundamental response to salvation. It is how you show God and the world that you truly understand the cost of the cross and the depth of the grace poured out on you.

Reflection Questions for Your Journey:

1. The Denarii. Is there a person in your life right now who owes you a "hundred denarii"—a small or large offense you are holding against them?

2. The Release. What would it look like this week to genuinely release that person from their debt in your heart, trusting that God is your ultimate judge and vindicator?

3. The Gratitude. How does meditating on the size of your ten thousand talent debt (your sin) make you more grateful and more willing to extend mercy to others?

Your Reading Guide

To find the story in the Bible and read Jesus's powerful conclusion, turn to Matthew 18:21–35. For a reminder of the ultimate act of forgiveness, read Ephesians 4:32.