Christians, what is the meaning of the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant?

Question

Matthew 18:21-35 What is it telling YOU? Anyone can answer this, not just christians..just want to get their attention...

Such great answers, people!

Answer 1

It suggests that if we have fully grasped God's forgiveness of us, that same forgiveness will flow out of us towards others.

Answer 2

I use that parable in my Biblical counseling sessions when a counselee has trouble forgiving someone. It represents who much God forgave us and how as obedient children we should forgive others.

One interpretation that I've read in a counseling book says that the man who went and choked the other man did it because he only asked for more time to pay his debt and was so focused on the debt he thought he still owed that he was desperate to make other people pay him so that he could start getting money for his own canceled debt.

At the end of the parable it says that the master will turn such a person over to the tormentors. In the same way, the Holy Spirit will not give an unforgiving Christian rest until he or she repents of their sinful attitude.

Answer 3

To treat others how you want to be treated. You seek forgiveness yet you forgive not. It's ok for you to owe, but can nobody not owe you. You want not to be cursed, but yet ye curse.

James 3:8-10
8) But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9) Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10) Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Answer 4

the version is this. If the international understood God and Jesus, our authorities would bypass a regulation, that forgives all money owed from the richest to the poorest, so all can initiate lower back anew. rather, the international loves money over God, anddebts are not any more forgiven. rather, they're further on and higher, for there is not any forgiveness in the international at the same time as it contains money. God forgives us of all our blunders, yet guy forgives no individual at the same time as it comes between him and his money. in different phrases, The servant are the persons of the international, The king is God. For Gods Kingdom to achieve fulfillment the following on earth, all money owed should be forgotten and forgiven. rather, they're higher because money is extra major in our international at present, than God. imagine about it. at the same time as become the perfect time you lent money and did not get it decrease back? Did you panic and sue them for it, or as I do, provide it no longer awaiting it decrease back, for we are to love our brothers as we like ourself. the international we stay in has been equipped through men, no longer God. God is interior of his those who do what's properly of their hearts and by no skill through what's properly through guy's regulations. They keep on with Gods regulations which above and previous that of mans. we are living in the days of mans vengeance. very few will be left.

Answer 5

It is telling me the same thing as the Lord's Prayer tells me in the line "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." The word 'as' in that sentence is a conjunction meaning "in the same way that." So the line can be paraphrased as "Forgive us our trespasses in the same way that we forgive those who trespass against us." And that is exactly what the master did with his unmerciful servant, and that is what the Lord God and Master will do with His unmerciful servants.

Answer 6

It means... none of us get through life without some help from someone. "No man is an island," and all that. ^__^

So basically, you should show others the same kindness/mercy that you know you have relied on in your own life.

Forgive others as God forgives you. Or at least, try to...

Answer 7

Hey, good question!

I had to go back and read that one, it's been awhile lol. It really brings home that we must show others mercy and forgiveness as much as possible. We should release others from their debt if they indeed are repentant.

Reading it just now brought to mind a situation I'm in right now, where I'm just furious at someone who is going to purposely leave me in debt. My mother-in-law moved in with us just as she got cancer and because of having to care for her, we lost our house to foreclosure. But we got her through all that radiation and chemo, moved to a rental home and she has been paying us a portion of the rent while we are getting out of debt.

She became insulted by something I said to her (I asked her to not wash our clothes please), and has decided to move out, leaving us with all those bills as well as having to cover her portion of the rent too. I may have to put my kids in daycare and go to work because of it. But seeing that verse reminds me to let it go, forgive her, and God will provide for me and mine.

Answer 8

the meaning is in the last verse: to forgive. if we do not forgive each other we may not receive if for ourselves for a long time, if ever. the wicked one was sent to jail until he could pay off his debt. how hard that must be in jail!

Answer 9

Glad you asked, If you've read this whoe thing, i'm so glad you asked, I use this verse often.


when it comes down to it, it means that you must forgive others before god will forgive you, it's stated other palces in the bible, I'm not sure about the exact places though.

go search Http://biblegateway.com/

Answer 10

It is telling me that I dare not hold a grudge against anybody, or else God has no reason to forgive me for all that I have done.

Answer 11

To me, it means God has forgiven us for all our sins, therefore we should forgive others. Since we are forgiven, if we do not forgive others, we will suffer the consequences!!