Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor (Matthew 18:23-34)

23
“Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his
accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one
of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars.[k] 25 He couldn’t pay, so his
master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he
owned—to pay the debt.

26
“But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and
I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and
forgave his debt.

28
“But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand
dollars.[l] He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.

29
“His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with
me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested
and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.

31
“When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king
and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had
forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you
pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on
you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire
debt.

Begin to analyze the passage for those aspects the author uses to create tension/conflict/surprise.
Keeps these in your notes:
- What about your passage makes it an interesting story?
In verse 26-28 is giving a surprise that the debtor was given mercy by the king and felt thankful but
then the debtor doesn’t give mercy and he should have just like the king towards the servant who
owes the debtor some money that is fewer than the amount the debtor owes to the king. I think this is
the conflict of the story.
- What is the main point the author is trying to get across?
The main point the author is trying to get across is stated in verse 35 which basically means you
should forgive even though that person has done sin.
- What does this passage teach us about God? What does it teach us about mankind? What is this
passage calling us to do or believe?
God would still forgive you even though you have done sin. However, if you have crossed the line, He
can punish you. All mankinds are sinners, but they can be forgiven if they try to do less sin from their
heart. This passage is calling us to respect and do good to each other as mankind.

Begin to make decisions about how you will turn that passage into play/script. Keep these in your
notes:
- will it be a historical setting or modern? modern
- how many characters do you need?
- will this be a monologue or will it need several different actors? Will it need a narrator? Not
monologue, will need several different actors. Narrator is not needed.
Drama of the Unforgiving Manager
Summary: Retelling the story of the unforgiving debtor from Debtor’s point of view (but
Debtor’s name changed to Steven as a manager to fit with the theme, the King becomes a
boss named Boss Richard and the fellow servant becomes manager’s employee named
Jonathan).
Actors: 3M, 2F/M
Characters: Steven, Boss Richard, Jonathan, Noelle, Kris

Script

In an office where people are focusing on their work, looking at their monitor.

Boss Richard:
(Going out of his office and announcing in a loud voice) Alright, everyone! Announcement for
those who have debt with me, I would like you all to come to my office one by one. I want my
accounts to be up to date now.

Steven:
(whispering to himself) Oh no.. not now. (starting to get stressed)

Boss Richard:
Starting with you. (pointing at Steven)

Steven:
(pointing at himself) Me?

Boss Richard:
Yes, you, Steven. Come to my office now. (going in to his office)

Steven:
Yes, sir. (in a low voice, looking annoyed)

In the Boss Richard' office. Boss Richard sat on his big chair, and let Steven sit on the small
chair across from him but Steven won’t sit.

Boss Richard:
Steven, you know it has been more than 2 years since I have lent you millions of dollars,
right?

Steven:
(Putting up his pathetic face then kneeling down) I am so sorry, sir! I still haven’t got enough
money to return it to you! (in a sad tone)

Boss Richard:
You have borrowed money from me several times and the amount is getting higher and
higher. You know I can’t keep you like this. (Pause for a few seconds) I’m afraid I will have to
reduce your salary this time. We don’t want any workers who are like you, who borrow a big
amount of money but still haven’t returned it after a given time for years.

Steven:
(Bowing down, sticks his forehead to the ground) Please don’t, sir! I really am sorry! Please
give me a bit more time…

Boss Richard:
(Starting to feel empathy towards Steven) I’m sorry but—

Steven:
(Cuts Boss Richard’, forehead still sticks to the ground) Please! Please, sir… Please be
patient with me, and I will pay it all.

Boss Richard:
(Pause for a few seconds, thinking, then sigh) Alright. I’m gonna give you another MONTH.
One month only. And if after one month you still haven’t returned my money, I’m sorry but I
will have to reduce your salary just like what I said.

Steven:
Oh! Thank you, sir. Thank you! (Stand up and bow again) I promise now. I will return it in a
month.

Boss Richard:
(Only nods then let Steven went out of his office)

Time already shows the time of break. Steven is in a cafeteria in the office building,
downstairs from the office where he works. Steven sits down and eats by himself in the
cafeteria. Notice he is sitting around 2 tables across where Jonathan is also eating by
himself. Steven’s breath started to get fast, feeling mad.

Steven:
That guy.. I forgot that guy hasn't paid me back 10 thousand dollars! He has to return it to me
immediately so I can return my debt back to Boss Richard!

Seeing the cafeteria starting to get empty, Steven immediately stands up and fastly walks to
approach Jonathan.

Steven:
Hey, you!

Staff noticed Steven approaching him fastly, feeling threatened. Take a few steps back as a
defensive response. Steven then suddenly grabbed Jonathan by the throat and demanded
instant payment.

Steven:
You! Return your money to me! I need it now!

2 Co-workers, Noelle and Kris, pass by and accidently see what is happening between
Steven and Jonathan. They tried to hide and keep looking at them.

Jonathan:
(Falls down then beg to Steven) I’m sorry, sir! I still haven’t got enough money to return it to
you. Please give me more time! I only need to get another thousand dollars, sir. Please be
patient with—

Steven suddenly slaps the Jonathan. Noelle and Kris are shocked and upset.

Steven:
NO! I need the money now! I won’t give you more time.

Jonathans:
Sorry, sir, but please give me another 2 weeks and I will pay—

Jonathans’ word is cut by Steven.

Steven:
No. You don’t give me back my money then I’m kicking you out from my team. Don’t you
dare to go back to our meeting room unless you already have the EXACT RIGHT amount of
money you borrowed from me by tomorrow.

Steven walks away from Jonathan, returning to his office upstairs. Meanwhile, Noelle and
Kris decided to report this to Boss Richard. They run upstairs and immediately go to Boss
Richard’ office.

Noelle:
Boss Richard! (Trying to gasp some air) I am sorry for interrupting you—going into your
office very sudden—but I have something that I think you should know.

Boss Richard:
(His attention changes from his computer to the co-workers) What is it?

Kris:
Steven tried to get his money back from Jonathan but with violence just now in the cafeteria.
He chokes and slaps Jonathan.

Boss Richard:
Steven!? He did that? Is that true? (Looks towards Noelle)

Noelle:
It’s true Boss Richard.

Boss Richard:
(Big sigh, in an angry tone) Alright, please call help bring Jonathan here and I’ll call Steven.
Noelle and Kris then goes out of the office and bring Jonathan upstairs. Meanwhile Boss
Richard checks the CCTV of the cafeteria to see if what they told was true. Boss Richard
feels disappointed and gets angrier. Boss Richard then also calls Steven to go to his office.
After getting Steven inside Boss Richard' office, a few minutes later, Jonathan knocks on the
door. Boss Richard lets in Jonathan and lets him sit beside Steven. Steven starts to get
nervous after seeing Boss Richard’ mad face.

Boss Richard:
(In angry tone) I am VERY disappointed in you, Steven. You evil! You begged me to give you
more time to repay your huge debt, and I did. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow
employee, just as I had mercy on you? As a result, I will have to fire you. We don’t accept
horrible people like you, Steven. And you, Jonathan, I promote you to become the next
manager.