Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:23-34)

There was once a man who was giving a great feast to which he invited many people. When it was time for the feast, he sent his servant to tell his guests, “Come, everything is ready!”

But they all began, one after another, to make excuses. The first one told the servant, “I have bought a field and must go and look at it; please accept my apologies.”

Another one said, “I have bought five pairs of oxen and am on my way to try them out; please accept my apologies.”

Another one said, “I have gotten married, and for that reason I cannot come.”

The servant went back to his master. The master was so furious and said to his servant, “Hurry out to the streets and alleys of the town, and bring back the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.”

Soon the servant said “Your order has been carried out, sir, but there is room for more.”

 So the master said to the servant, “Go out to the country roads and lanes and make people come in, so that my house will be full.” I tell you all that none of those who were invited will taste my dinner!”.

Brothers and sisters, all of us are invited to the Kingdom of God. Many of us are too busy in our daily lives and we either intentionally or unintentionally ignore God’s calling. Let’s open our heart to our Lord Jesus Christ for there is a great joy for not being a snob. With Jesus, there's inner peace. Jesus said in John 14:27 “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my peace that I give you.”

Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:23-34)

Once there was a King who decided to check his servants account. He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before the king.

“Be patient with me,” he begged, “and I will pay you everything!” The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go.

Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him.

“Pay back what you owe me!” he said. His fellow servant fell down and begged him.

“Be patient with me, and I will pay you back!”.  But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into jail until he should pay the debt.

When the other servants saw what had happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him everything. So he called the servant in.  

“You worthless slave!” he said. “I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to. You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.”

The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount.

Forgiveness is essential part of our lives. It heals our brokenness. Everyone make mistakes and no one is perfect. Let’s be patient with one another as others are patient with us too.  God bless us all.