From: Matthew 18:21-35
Forgiveness of Injuries. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
[21] Then Peter came up and said to Him (Jesus), "Lord, how often
shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven
times?" [22] Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times,
but seventy times seven.
[23] "Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who
wished to settle accounts with his servants. [24] When he began the
reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents;
[25] 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. [26] So
the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with
me, and I will pay you everything.' [27] And out of pity for him the
lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. [28] 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.' [29] So his fellow servant fell down and besought
him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' [30] He refused and
went and put him in prison till he should pay his debt. [31] 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.
[32] Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant!
I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; [33] and should
not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'
[34] And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should
pay all his debt. [35] So also My Heavenly Father will do to every one
of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
Commentary:
21-35. Peter's question and particularly Jesus' reply prescribe the
spirit of understanding and mercy which should govern Christians'
behavior.
In Hebrew the figure of seventy times seven means the same as "always"
(cf. Genesis 4:24): "Therefore, our Lord did not limit forgiveness to a
fixed number, but declared that it must be continuous and forever"
(Chrysostom, "Hom. on St. Matthew", 6). Here also we can see the
contrast between man's ungenerous, calculating approach to forgiveness,
and God's infinite mercy. The parable also clearly shows that we are
totally in God's debt. A talent was the equivalent of six thousand
denarii, and a denarius a working man's daily wage. Ten thousand
talents, an enormous sum, gives us an idea of the immense value attaching
to the pardon we receive from God. Overall, the parable
teaches that we must always forgive our brothers, and must do so
wholeheartedly.
"Force yourself, if necessary, always to forgive those who offend you,
from the very first moment. For the greatest injury or offense that
you can suffer from them is nothing compared to what God has pardoned
you" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 452).
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.
