Feb. 18, 2026

Dear Friends,

I hope you can join us tonight for Bible study. We are studying one of Jesus' powerful teachings on forgiveness. The Scripture is Matthew 18:21-35. Notes are attached.

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

FEBRUARY 18, 2026

Matthew 18:21-35

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive

him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times

seven.a

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his

servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And

since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had,

and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and

I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and

forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who

owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So

his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He

refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw

what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that

had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you

all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow

servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,[l] until he should

pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your

brother from your heart.”

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v 21 – Then Peter …

Peter’s question was sincere – they had all heard Jesus teach about forgiveness

Seven times seemed to Peter like a very high number—it even may reflect the sense of the

number 7 representing completion

And Peter’s question is about his brother sinning against him (!)

Peter was not sensitive or “precious” about his feelings. He meant something serious enough to

be a sin.

v 22 – “Jesus said to him …”

Jesus did not, of course, mean 490 times—he meant that there is no limit.

Here again, he took the number 7—completeness—and compounded it.

v 23 – “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared …”

Jesus expands on his answer

more lit. “In this regard, the kingdom of the heavens may be compared to a man—a king who

desired to settle accounts with his servants.”

Jesus frames his teaching, not just in terms of right and wrong, but in terms of how things are in

the kingdom of the heavens—the kingdom under the rule of God.

“accounts” – logos, usually translated “word”, but also account, matter, etc. It is an interesting

relationship. cf. Matthew 12:36-36: I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give

a The ESV (almost solely) renders this number seventy-seven times, and adds the footnote: “Or seventy times seven.”

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account [logos] for every careless word [rhema] they speak, for by your words [logos] you

will be justified, and by your words [logos] you will be condemned.”

This entire narrative has a theme of judgment—and the teachings of Jesus often do.

v 24 – “When he began to settle …”

ten thousand talents – about $6 billion in today’s currency

(a talent was about 20 years’ wages for a laborer, so this represents 200,000 years of a

laborer’s wage @ $30,000/yr)

It was an impossible debt to pay—almost an impossible number to conceive—and that

was exactly the point Jesus was making

v 25 – “his master ordered him so be sold …”

“and the wife and the children and all whatsoever that he had”

a harsh punishment indeed, and used to make a point

It was within the master’s (the king’s) prerogative to pronounce it

The debtor “had it coming”—he deserved it – he had a $6 billion debt he could not pay

v 26 – “So the servant fell on his knees …”

more lit. “So having fallen down, the servant was bowing on his knees [proskuneó] to him,

saying …”

This was all he could do—cry out for mercy and more time

v 27 – “And out of pity …”

It’s a stronger word than that

splagchnizomai – “having been moved with compassion” - at the deepest level – representing

God’s mercy for us

The master not only released him, he forgave the debt!

vv 28-30 – “But when that same servant went out …”

And here the story turns—and here comes the inescapable, convicting truth about those who will

not forgive a brother or a sister. This is how God sees it.

The fellow-servant owed him about $10,000.

A denarii was a day’s wage for a laborer. So, 100 denarii would be 3-4 month’s pay.

This was not a trivial debt—from a certain point of view.

But it was immeasurably trivial when compared to the $6 billion debt owed to the king

He was violent with the fellow servant, demanding his money.

The fellow servant fell down and was begging [parakaleó] him—just as the first servant had

done

He refused to forgive the debt and had his fellow servant put into prison

vv 31-33 – “When his fellow servants saw …”

His master was angry when he heard and summoned him

“You wicked servant! I forgave you …”

This is exactly the perspective that God has and that we need to be clear on

v 34 – “And in anger his master delivered him …”

God does become angry

“jailers” – basanistés – tormentor, torturer – some jailers had this specific job

“until he should pay all his debt.”

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This, of course, would never happen

v 35 – “So also …”

Jesus leaves no doubt about how to interpret this parable

“My heavenly Father” – who is who he is – not as people may misrepresent him

“will do to each of you”!

“from your heart”

This is an important line

It cannot be a superficial, perfunctory “pretend” forgiveness

It must be genuine, from the heart, truly forgiven

What does forgiveness mean?

It means that a debt is “forgotten about”

If I forgive a person, then there is no sin debt or debt of justice that is owed to me from them; it’s

forgotten

It does not mean that a person must keep subjecting himself or herself—or others— to abuse in

the name of repeated forgiveness

This is a personal ethic, not a governmental ethic. It is the State’s duty to enforce the law—to

establish justice, to support righteousness, and to punish evil—not to “forgive” crimes that

one person commits against another.

We cannot actually forgive offenses that were committed against others—but we can forgive any

effects those acts have upon us

In these examples, the forgiveness was asked for by the offender. That is not always the case, but

that is the case being addressed here.

The petition in the Lord’s prayer has do disclaimers regarding those who ask and those

who do not

Those who do not ask do not get the blessing of asking for and receiving forgiveness—so

the most important context relationally is where forgiveness is asked for

At the same time, we are not to harbor unforgiveness and bitterness in our hearts against

others for sins against ourselves.

And it is liberating to forgive.