Christian Responsibility and Accountability
Lesson 3
The context of this parable arose from a question about forgiveness asked by Peter: "How often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?" Peter suggested perhaps a generous, unthinkable seven times. The point of this parable is disturbing. It powerfully declares what God considers essential in His priorities are likely to be considered unimportant in human priorities. We love to be forgiven! However, practicing forgiveness does not rate very high on our list of priorities. We surely do not rank practicing forgiveness as a life-defining responsibility given in response to the privilege of receiving God's forgiveness.
Consider the cast of characters in this parable. The parable is based on every day realities that surrounded them in first century Palestine. There is a king [wealthy authority figure] who as lord or master over several slaves decided it was time for his servants to responsibly repay their debts. There is a slave [person in a powerless position] who owes the king an incredible, unpayable sum of money. There is the wife and children of the impossibly indebted slave. There is a fellow slave who is indebted to the slave with the impossible debt. This fellow slave owes the impossibly indebted slave 100 denarii--a payable 100 days wages. There are fellow slaves who know both men. There are the torturers who carry out the king's orders.
Consider the story. A king decided the time had come for his slaves to pay him what they owed him. The king expected to receive that which was rightfully his. The slaves were his property to serve him as he pleased. [A person could become a slave in many different ways--from failure to meet financial obligations to being captured in war. First century slavery was not restricted to a particular race of people. Previously well educated, or wealthy, or socially prominent people could become slaves.]
As the king settled accounts with his slaves, one slave was brought before him who owed an impossible debt. If this slave gave the king everything the slave acquired the rest of his life, that amount would be insufficient to repay the debt. The king was quite pragmatic. He knew he had no hope of recovering the debt. Therefore, he would make the best of a bad situation. He would 'cut his losses.' He would sell the slave, each member of the slave's immediate family, and everything the slave owned. The sum produced by those sales would be applied to the indebtedness. All those sales likely would not produce enough to cover the indebtedness, but it would at least be a partial payment on the debt. That sum would far exceed the amount the slave immediately could give the king. The king ordered the sales.
Immediately the slave was consumed with grief. He humbled himself before the king in a physical manner that declared, "I am nothing and I know it." He pleaded with the king to be patient with him. He made an impossible promise [which the king would recognize as impossible]: if the king would be patient with him, he would repay everything. The payments this slave could make [if he were diligent and determined] on this huge indebtedness would not even cover the interest!
Why was the slave deeply grieved? He had no idea where he would go or what he would be required to do. He might never see his wife again. He might never see his children again. There was no assurance that family members would be near enough to have contact with each other. The reason for his being sold virtually assured him he would not be in a trust position as a slave. Hard work was in his future! He would never be trusted enough to receive a loan again!
The slave's impassioned plea moved the king. The king was not deceived by the plea. He knew the slave could not do what he promised regardless of the slave's sincerity. The king was moved by compassion. He released the slave from arrest [remember, the king already had declared a course of action]. The compassionate king forgave the slave's entire impossible debt: "You owe me nothing! Your entire debt is removed from my account!"
What an incredible gift! He would not be sold! His family would not be separated! He could continue in a familiar situation at a familiar place! He could begin anew without even thinking of the past! Stress was removed! In an instant he was transported from the totally unknown to the absolutely secure. He literally went from having nothing to having nothing to worry about.
This same slave who received an unbelievable reprieve shortly thereafter 'found' a fellow slave who owed him 100 days wages--a repayable debt. He seized his debtor, choked him, and demanded immediate repayment. Though he has been blessed wonderfully by the king's compassion, he had no compassion.
This slave's debtor humbled himself [as had he shortly before], asked for the same thing [patience], and made the same promise he made [I will repay]. However, the forgiven slave was unlike the king. He threw his debtor into prison until the complete debt was repaid. The imprisoned slave could not work while in jail. Severe hardship was inflicted on the imprisoned debtor's family. The family had to do anything necessary to acquire the sum of 100 days wages so the debtor could be released.
Some fellow slaves saw what happened and reported the happening to the king. A now angry king recalled the slave to his presence. He called the slave wicked. He asked, "If I showed you mercy, why did you not show the same mercy to your debtor?" The angry king reinstated the debt, imprisoned the unmerciful slave, and committed him to torture to suffer until he repaid his impossible debt in full.
The chilling declaration from Jesus: "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
The responsibility: let God's treatment of you determine your treatment of others.
Thought and Discussion Questions
Link to Teacher's Guide Lesson 3