Question:
What about the man in the parable in Matthew 18:23-35? Did he lose his salvation?
Answer:
The Lord is not talking in this parable of the unjust steward about salvation. He is talking about how we should use what we have, and about forgiveness between two people. He is not talking about forgiveness from God.
In this parable He is giving instruction about how we should act in “the kingdom of heaven,” which is that aspect of His kingdom today, when Christ (the King) is in heaven. As disciples in His kingdom, we should forgive those who offend us just like He forgave us of all our sins. We should forgive them so many times that we lose count: even “seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22).Christ’s instruction for us today is quite different from the law of Moses. Jesus said that the children of Israel were told “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil; but whosever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also….Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:38, 39, 43, 44). The Lord talks about the law, but then changes it for us now. “The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).