Slices
Prepare
Think about your experiences of forgiving and being forgiven. What difference did it make to you?
Bible passage
The parable of the unmerciful servant
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’
22 Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 ‘Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26 ‘At this the servant fell on his knees before him. “Be patient with me,” he begged, “and I will pay back everything.” 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, cancelled the debt and let him go.
28 ‘But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. “Pay back what you owe me!” he demanded.
29 ‘His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, “Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.”
30 ‘But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 ‘Then the master called the servant in. “You wicked servant,” he said, “I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 ‘This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.’
Explore
Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone. Peter was being generous in suggesting seven times (v 21). Jesus’ reply implied that Peter should forgive without counting (v 22). I wonder what Peter thought of the answer.
The story he told illustrates his point (vs 23–34). A king was settling his accounts. One servant owed him 18 bags of gold, or ten thousand talents. Just one talent was worth about 20 years of a day labourer’s wages, so this was an impossibly large sum! The man was unable to pay his debt, so the king ordered that he and his family be sold into slavery. The king responded to the man’s desperate pleas (v 26) by having mercy and cancelling his debts (v 27). Look at verses 28–30. Why is the man’s subsequent behaviour so shocking? The fellow servant owed the man the equivalent of just a hundred days’ worth of wages. If you had been there, what would you have done (v 31)?
The king’s response in verses 32–34 reflects his anger at the first servant’s refusal to forgive such a small debt when he had been forgiven such a vast debt. In verse 35, Jesus applies the story to the disciples. They are to forgive each other from their hearts because their heavenly Father has forgiven the vast debt of their sin. Failure to do this will result in harsh judgement.
Respond
Forgiveness can take time and hard work. But we can always pray ‘… forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us’ (Matthew 6:12, NLT).
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Isaiah 61,62; Hebrews 12
Pray for Scripture Union
Last summer over 1,000 volunteers joined our events. Today the volunteer website for the 2027 events opens. Pray that people would be inspired to bring their talents and time to serve young people through our missions, holidays and events.
A child has started following Jesus. Help them keep growing.
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