10,000 Talents

Matthew 18:21-35
 Matthew 18:21-23
…Peter came to him, and said, “Lord,
how often shall my brother sin against
me, and I forgive him? Seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I tell you not seven
times but seventy times seven.
Therefore the kingdom of heaven is
compared to a certain king who wished
to take account of his servants.
 Matthew 18:24-25
And when he had begun to count, one
was brought unto him who
owed him ten thousand talents.

But since he was not able to pay,

his lord commanded him to be sold,
and his wife and children,
and all that he had, and
payment to be made.
 Matthew 18:26-27
The servant therefore fell down
and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord,
have patience with me, and I will pay
you everything!’ Then the lord of
that servant was moved with
compassion, and released him,
and forgave him the debt.
 Matthew 18:28-29
But the same servant went out, and
found one of his fellow servants, who
owed him a hundred denarii, and he laid
hands on him, and took him by the
throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
And his fellow servant fell down at his feet,
and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience
with me, and I will pay you everything!’
 Matthew 18:30-31
And he would not, but went and
cast him into prison until he should
pay the debt. So when his fellow
servants saw what was done, they
were grieved, and came and told
their lord everything that was done.
 Matthew 18:32-33
Then his lord, after he had called
him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant!
I forgave you all that debt because
you asked me. Shouldn’t you also
have had compassion on your
fellow servant, even as I
had compassion on you?’
 Matthew 18:34-35
And his lord was angry, and
delivered him to the tormentors until
he should pay all that was due
unto him. So likewise shall my
heavenly Father do also to you, if
you from your hearts do not forgive,
every one his brother, their trespasses.”
 Parables
How does the Kingdom operate?

What are the rules?

What is the environment?
What are the people like?
What attitude do the citizens have?
What is God’s Kingdom like?
...we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ. For it is
written, “As I live,” saith the Lord,
“every knee shall bow to me, and
every tongue shall confess to God.”
So then every one of us shall give
account of himself to God.

(Romans 14:10b-12)
What is God’s Kingdom like?

A place of accountability

A place of forgiveness

A place of second chances

 How much have
we been forgiven?

10,000 talents
1 talent = 3,000 shekels

1 talent = 90 pounds of gold

How about some good news?

All of us like sheep have gone astray,

each of us has turned to his own way,
and the LORD has laid on
Him the iniquity of us all.
(Isaiah 53:6)
How about some good news?

For God so loved the world

that He gave His only begotten
Son, so that whoever believes
in Him might not perish,
but have eternal life.
(John 3:16)
Why should I forgive others?
Let all bitterness and wrath and
anger and tumult and evil speaking
be put away from you, with all malice.
And be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ‘s
sake has forgiven you.
(Eph. 4:31-32)
 100 denarii
It ain’t 10,000 talents…

But I wouldn’t turn it down!

US equivalent (2009) = $12,000

What happens if I don’t forgive?
Nursing a grudge?

“So likewise shall My heavenly Father

do also to you, unless each one of
you from your hearts forgive his
brother their trespasses.”
(Matt. 18:21-25)
How generous should I be?
And when they had come to the
place which is called Calvary, there
they crucified Him, and the criminals,
one on the right hand, and
the other on the left. Then Jesus
said, “Father, forgive them; for they
do not know what they are doing.”
(Luke 23:33-34a)
How can I forgive others?
1. By the love of God
poured out in our hearts

…the love of God has been poured

out in our hearts through the
Holy Spirit given to us.
(Rom. 5:5b)
Forgiving love in action…
And they stoned Stephen, who
was calling on God and saying,
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
And kneeling down, he cried with
a loud voice, “Lord, do not lay
this sin to their charge.”
(Acts 7:59-60a)
How can I forgive others?
2. By an act of our will

But I say to you, love your enemies,

bless those who curse you, do
good to those who hate you, and
pray for them who despitefully
use you, and persecute you…
(see Matt. 5:43-45)
 How can I forgive others?
3. By trusting in the justice of God

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but

give place to wrath; for it is written,
"Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”
says the Lord.
(Rom. 12:19-21)
 How can I forgive others?
4. Allow God to heal you
and turn you from bitterness

He will turn again; He will have pity on

us. He will trample our iniquities.
Yes, You will cast all their sins
into the depths of the sea.
(see Micah 7:18-19)
 Avoid the Bitter Root
Pursue peace and holiness with all
people, without which no one shall
see the Lord: looking diligently lest
anyone fall from the grace of God;
lest any root of bitterness growing up
cause trouble, and through
this many be defiled…
(Heb. 12:14-15)
Did we leave anyone
in the prison?

Let’s let them go!