Words of Truth

Parables:Parables about Debtors

(Matthew 18:21-35; Luke 7:41,42)

Forgiveness is one of the major themes of the Bible. In the Old Testament the need of the people of Israel for God’s forgiveness was emphasized in the sacrifices and there are recorded many requests for God’s forgiveness and a few cases of persons asking another person for forgiveness. The New Testament continues the theme of our need for forgiveness and we are told that Christ’s death has made full forgiveness possible for those who trust Him. However, a new aspect of forgiveness is introduced in the New Testament, that is, our responsibility to forgive others who have offended us. In addition to the parable in Matthew to be discussed below, other scriptures which tell us of this responsibility are Matt. 6:12-15 and Eph. 4:32.

The parable in Matt. 18:21-35 was part of the answer to Peter’s question, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?" Peter suggested seven times as the upper limit. However, the Lord Jesus countered with the figure of 490 times, which means essentially, "as many times as the offense occurs," since only the most determined bookkeeper would be able to remember or keep track of 490 offenses. The parable continues this idea. When we realize how much God has forgiven us, we should be willing to forgive our fellows the relatively inconsequential debts they owe us. Would we want God to have some upper limit of number of offenses beyond which He would refuse to forgive us? If not, then we should not have any upper limit, especially since our offenses toward God will always far outnumber any offenses anyone else could commit against us. Unforgiveness is a sin and must be confessed and repented of like any other sin if we are to experience in a practical way God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9).


The parable in Matthew 18 tells us that since we have been forgiven so much we should be willing to forgive others. The parable in Luke 7 tells us that only when we begin to realize how much we have been forgiven will we begin to love and appreciate our Saviour as we should. Those of us who grew up in Christian homes and were saved while still young so that we didn’t become entangled with the plainly evident kinds of sin, or those who were saved many years ago and who have spent a long time free of blatant sins, may have special problems with this. Perhaps a certain smugness or complacency_the "Well, I don’t do this, I don’t do that, the Lord must be pretty pleased with me" syndrome_has set in. Could this have been the cause of the loss of first love in Ephesus (Rev. 2:4)?



What might be the cure for this complacent state? Perhaps a study of the Scriptures which teach us of God’s perfect holiness and His insistence on holiness in us, even of our minds and spirits, and not just in our outward behavior. Perhaps a meditation on how even the best of men portrayed in Scripture, such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the apostle John responded to visions of God’s glory and holiness. When we have a better understanding of God, we will have a better understanding of ourselves and "repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:5,6).

Since even "the stars are not pure in His sight" (Job 25:5), then each one of us has been forgiven more than we will ever know_at least while we are here on earth. Thus our hearts should be overflowing with love and thanksgiving to our divine Forgiver.