The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant; Mathhew 18:21-35
Set Free to Forgive: Lessons from the Unmerciful Servant
All of us struggle with forgiveness. We have been hurt, betrayed, or spoken against. Some wounds run deep — caused by people we trusted the most. We hold on to anger, replay the pain in our minds, and wait for an apology that may never come. Yet deep inside, we long for peace, healing, and freedom from bitterness. Just like the unmerciful servant, we often forget how much we have been forgiven. We want mercy from God but justice for others.
Let’s Jump to Our Text Today
The truth is, forgiveness is not natural — it is a spiritual need. We cannot truly forgive unless we first remember how greatly we have been forgiven by God. The world needs forgiveness — in families, marriages, friendships, and even churches. Without it, hearts grow hard, relationships break, and love fades. This parable reminds us that forgiveness is not optional for believers; it is essential for our healing, unity, and relationship with God.
Our text today comes from the book of Matthew 18:21–35.
This parable is about a king’s servant who was forgiven a huge debt after pleading for mercy and asking for more time to pay. The king knew the servant could never repay such an enormous amount, so instead of punishing him, he chose to forgive him completely and canceled the entire debt. But not long after, the servant forgot the mercy he had received. He found a fellow servant who owed him only a small amount. Instead of showing the same kindness and compassion, he grabbed him and threw him into prison until he could pay what he owed. When the news reached the king, he was deeply angered. He called the servant back and ordered that he be thrown into prison and tortured until he could pay the full amount of his debt. Jesús ends this parable with a powerful warning:
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (Matthew 18:35)
The Lesson We Can Learn
In this parable, the king represents God, the king’s servant represents us, and the other servant represents those who have wronged us. The servant owed the king a huge debt that he could never repay. We don’t know what position he held, but we know the debt was beyond his ability to settle. In the same way, we owed God a great debt — our sin. We had sinned against Him, and all we deserved was eternal punishment. No one could pay the debt of sin, for “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).But because of God’s grace and mercy, He forgave our sins through Jesus Christ. If God had brought His full judgment on humanity, no one would have survived. Yet, out of His compassion, He canceled our debt and saved us.
The Danger of Forgetting Mercy
The servant who was forgiven was joyful but soon forgot the mercy he had received. He found a fellow servant who owed him a small amount and refused to forgive him. The king became angry and handed him over to be imprisoned and tortured until he paid back all he owed — something impossible to do.This shows us that, like the servant, we can never repay God for our sins. Sin can only be atoned through a perfect sacrifice — one without defect or blemish. We could not offer such a sacrifice because we are sinners.
But God did it for us through Jesus Christ, “who knew no sin but became sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).Jesus satisfied God’s wrath by His own blood and reconciled us to the Father. He paid our debt in full. We didn’t even ask for forgiveness — just as the servant never asked the king to cancel his debt. Yet, because of compassion, the king forgave him completely. Likewise, God forgave us because He knew we could never repay Him.
Forgiveness Is Not Earned
There are still many who think they can earn God’s forgiveness or favor by their own effort — through good deeds, legalism, or religious rituals. But we are forgiven only through Christ’s atonement. We are accepted by God because of Christ’s obedience and perfect sacrifice — not because of anything we do. No religion, ritual, or law-keeping can earn us forgiveness or righteousness.
Forgive as God Forgave You
This parable challenges us to examine our hearts. If we truly understand how much God has forgiven us, we will forgive others from our hearts. The problem is that we often think we have the right to pay back those who hurt us. But we forget that, like the servant, we belong to the King — and we have no authority to demand payment or take revenge. Only God is the righteous judge. The Bible says in Romans 12:19:
“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. ” When we hold grudges, we imprison ourselves in bitterness. Forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending the wrong never happened — it means releasing the person and trusting God for justice and healing.
A Call to Forgive
Maybe today you are hurt. Maybe someone betrayed you, lied about you, or broke your trust. You want them to pay for what they did — but God is saying, “Leave it to Me. ”Are you angry with someone? Are you holding bitterness in your heart? Are you wounded and longing for peace? It’s time to let it go. Forgiveness is the only remedy. Holding on to pain only destroys you — it makes you bitter, jealous, and restless. Forgiveness doesn’t come naturally; it comes when we surrender our pain to God. When you forgive, God gives you peace of mind.
You can’t forgive others until you realize how much God has forgiven you. Pray that God softens your heart through His Holy Spirit and fills you with love to forgive. Remember — forgiveness is not optional; it is a condition. If we refuse to forgive, God will not forgive us. It hinders our prayers and separates us from His presence. Jesus warns us clearly in this parable — if we do not forgive others from our hearts, we too will face judgment.
Conclusion: Forgiven to Forgive
The story of the unmerciful servant reminds us that we are all debtors who have been set free. God canceled a debt we could never pay — not with silver or gold, but with the blood of His Son. How then can we, who have been shown such mercy, hold others captive in unforgiveness? Every time we forgive, we reflect the heart of our King. Forgiveness is not weakness — it is strength. It sets you free. It brings healing where there was pain, peace where there was anger, and love where there was bitterness. So today, release that person. Let go of the pain. Stop holding the debt. You are not the judge — God is. You are the forgiven — so be a forgiver. When you let go, heaven rejoices, chains break, and peace returns to your heart.
Forgive — because you have been forgiven.
