Parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18)

 

Some say that this parable in Matthew 18 teaches that one can lose their salvation.  

One can clearly see why.  There are a few of what I call, "tripping hazards" in the translations that would make us think so.

Some of these are the fact that at the beginning of the parable, The Lord begins by saying that "the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to this".. 

Then it mentions "fellow servants" and it mentions, that "the master" forgave the wicked servant.  Also, it says that we are to forgive "our brothers".

First of all, when it is stated "the Kingdom of Heaven is like this"... we have to stop and consider that it can't mean (taking into consideration the rest of scripture) that The Kingdom of Heaven will be LIKE people working and having servants, etc.  Heaven isn't going to be a glorious factory where people will be committed to work and have cruel bosses, and obvious work related stress, etc.

So it has to mean something else.

The emphasis is on two things: FORGIVENESS and the wickedness of NOT FORGIVING.

Notice that the master forgave MUCH so the servant was expected to forgive much, and it uses a familiar example of work and slavery, which in those times, was a reality in that ancient culture.

People used to literally place themselves in slavery in order to survive.   Also, people were forced into slavery if they couldn't pay their debts.  

Therefore, just as in the world, people were expected to pay their debts (extraneously) why would it be any different or lesser paying a debt to God, The Creator?

The Lord had also stated in Luke 7 that a person who is forgiven little loves little but a person who is forgiven much, loves much.

This is the heart and subsequent action of a truly regenerated (born again) child of God, and one who has been forgiven much.  

And this is why the servant was considered "wicked" because when he was forgiven much yet he loved little since he didn't have mercy upon the person who couldn't pay their debt.   By his actions, it demonstrates that the parable isn't about the saved and the unsaved but exclusively about the ugliness of unforgiveness.

Notice how The Lord uses the words "brother", only AFTER He completes the parable.  In the parable, they weren't brothers but "fellow slaves or servants".  

The Lord was speaking to Peter using an example of what wicked unforgiveness looks like, in opposition to the attribute of forgiveness which is characteristic of "The Kingdom of Heaven".

Have any questions?

Shoot me a message, and I'll get back to you when I can.

God bless!

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