Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Parable of the Unforgiving Official) was given by Jesus in the New Testament (Matthew). The moral is generally understood to be, "Do onto others as you would wish them do onto you". This parable illustrates that the Christian "sin debt" to God should be motivation to forgive those that trespass against us.

From bibleref|Matthew|18:21-35quotation|Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"
Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents;
and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'
And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, 'Pay what you owe.'
So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'
He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt.
When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.
Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me;
and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'
And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

bibleref|Matthew|18:21–22 is similar to bibleref|Luke|17:3-4: quotation|Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

External links

* [http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_gospels/parable_of_the_tortured_debtor/mt18_23.html Parable of the Tortured Debtor] - The Brick Testament
* [http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/BS/k/770/Parable-of-Unforgiving-Servant.htm Parable Explained] - BibleTools.org