The Unmerciful Servant
A servant owes his master millions but is forgiven. He then refuses to forgive a fellow servant who owes him a tiny amount. The master punishes his unforgiving heart.
Matthew 18:21-35
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The Story
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?'
Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 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.
At this the servant fell on his knees before him. "Be patient with me," he begged, "and I will pay back everything." The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
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.
His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, "Be patient with me, and I will pay it back." But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison.
When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything.
Then the master called the servant in. "You wicked servant," he said, "I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" In anger his master handed him over to the jailers.
This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.'
The Servant Who Wouldn't Forgive
Kids Version
Peter asked Jesus, 'How many times should I forgive someone? Seven times?'
Jesus said, 'Not seven—seventy times seven!' That basically means KEEP FORGIVING!
Then Jesus told a story:
A servant owed the king a HUGE amount of money—millions and millions! There was NO way he could pay it back.
The king said, 'Sell him and his family as slaves to pay the debt!'
The servant fell on his knees. 'Please, please! Be patient! I'll pay it all back!'
The king felt sorry for him. 'You know what? I forgive the WHOLE debt. You don't owe me anything. Go free!'
WOW! The servant was forgiven MILLIONS!
But then that same servant found another servant who owed HIM a tiny bit of money—like a few dollars compared to millions.
Did he forgive him? NO WAY!
He grabbed the other servant by the throat. 'PAY ME WHAT YOU OWE!'
'Please, be patient! I'll pay you back!'
But the first servant had the man thrown in PRISON!
Other servants saw this and told the king. The king was FURIOUS!
'You wicked servant! I forgave you MILLIONS! Couldn't you forgive a tiny debt?!' The king threw him in prison.
Jesus said, 'This is what will happen if you don't forgive others from your heart.'
God has forgiven us SO MUCH. We should forgive others the same way!
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Characters in This Story
Scripture — Matthew 18:21-35 (KJV)
21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. talents: a talent is 750.ounces of silver, which after five shillings the ounce is 187.li. 10.s.
25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. worshipped him: or, besought him
27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. pence: the Roman penny is the eighth part of an ounce, which after five shillings the ounce is seven pence halfpenny; about fourteen cents
29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Memory Verse
“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”
— Matthew 18:21 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “The Unmerciful Servant” in the Bible?
A servant owes his master millions but is forgiven. He then refuses to forgive a fellow servant who owes him a tiny amount. The master punishes his unforgiving heart. This story is found in Matthew 18:21-35.
Where is “The Unmerciful Servant” found in the Bible?
“The Unmerciful Servant” is found in Matthew 18:21-35, in the book of Matthew.
What can children learn from “The Unmerciful Servant”?
This story teaches children about Forgiveness, Mercy, Hypocrisy, God's forgiveness. A servant owed the king MILLIONS but was forgiven! Then he refused to forgive another servant who owed him just a little bit. The king was NOT happy about that!