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Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins
against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven
times.” Matthew 18:21–22
After replying to Peter, Jesus tells a parable about a servant who
owed his master a “huge amount.” The literal translation from the
Greek is “ten thousand talents.” One talent alone was a substantial
sum, equivalent to about twenty years of wages for a day laborer.
Therefore, ten thousand talents would represent an astonishing
debt—roughly 200,000 years of wages, or about 24 billion U.S.
dollars for a worker making $50 an hour.
It’s difficult to even fathom that much. Jesus uses this immense
amount to emphasize His point. When the king in the parable decided
to settle accounts with his servants and the one who owed him this
enormous debt was brought before him, the king initially decided to
have the man and his family sold into slavery. However, the servant
pleaded with the king, asking for more time and promising to repay
the debt in full. As a result, the king forgave the entire debt.
This was undoubtedly a life-changing day for the servant.
Things changed quickly, however. When that servant encountered one
of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount—100
denarii in Greek—he immediately demanded repayment. When his fellow
servant pleaded for mercy, the man refused and had him thrown into
prison. Using the same calculation, 100 denarii would be 100 days’
wages or 40,000 U.S. dollars.
The contrast is stark! The king represents God, and each of us
represents the servant forgiven for the enormous debt. When we beg
for mercy, God grants it in superabundance. He knows that we are
unable to repay the debt of our sins, so He wipes it away with one
condition: that we, in turn, forgive everyone who sins against
us.
Jesus tells this parable in response to Peter’s question about how
often he must forgive his brother who sins against him. Peter
suggests, “Seven times?” but Jesus responds with the symbolic
number, “Seventy-seven times,” meaning that our forgiveness should
have no limits—an infinite number of times. How well do we live out
this call?
Overcoming anger is challenging, as we often feel that justice
should be served when we are wronged. But perhaps if someone came
to us, confessed his or her sin, and begged for mercy, we might
offer it. But Jesus teaches that forgiveness must go beyond mere
words—it must come from the heart. It must be sincere, complete,
and without reservation. Every fiber of our being must forgive. And
if someone sins against us and refuses to acknowledge any
wrongdoing, the same applies: We must forgive even that unrepentant
person from the heart. This is no easy task.
If forgiveness is difficult for you, as it is for most people,
consider the consequences of withholding forgiveness. When the king
in this parable learned that his servant refused to forgive his
fellow servant’s small debt, he “handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.” Jesus concludes the
parable with a stark warning: “So will my heavenly Father do to
you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”
This should inspire a holy fear in us, often called servile fear—a
fear of punishment that helps turn us away from sin. This is a good
starting point, but the ideal is to cultivate filial fear, the fear
of offending God that springs from love. When we truly love God and
experience His infinite mercy, we strive to avoid sin not just out
of fear of punishment but because we do not want to hurt or offend
our loving Father.
Reflect today on two key things. First, grasp the unfathomable
mercy God has given you. Let it fill your heart with deep
gratitude. Second, call to mind anyone against whom you harbor
anger or resentment. Even the smallest trace of unforgiveness must
be confronted. Make an act of your will to forgive, and continue
doing so until that forgiveness flows sincerely from your
heart.
Most merciful God, Your mercy is unfathomable. I beg for Your
forgiveness for my sins. There is no way I can ever repay You. I
acknowledge that Your forgiveness is contingent upon me offering
the same mercy to everyone who has sinned against me. Please soften
my heart, Lord, so that I may offer others the same mercy You have
granted me. Jesus, I trust in You.
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