These small group studies of Matthew comprise outlines, cross-references, Bible written report discussion questions, verse by verse commentary, and applications.  Visit our library of anterior Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you tin can apply in your small-scale group.

Matthew eighteen:21-35 Inductive Bible Study – Discussion Questions and Verse past Verse Commentary

Matthew xviii:21-35 – Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

Word Questions

Would a Jew at the time of Peter thought 7 times was a lot or not many times to forgive someone?
Does Jesus' answer hateful you lot should count seventy sevens (or 490) times? What does His respond mean?
Spend a few minutes and write out the main point of the parable in ane sentence in your own words.
In this parable, who is the king?
Who are the servants?
How much is ten one thousand talents?
What does this debt represent?
Could this debt be paid? So what was to happen to the servant?
What character does the king shows when he forgives the debt?
What graphic symbol does the servant shows when he doesn't forgive?
How much is i hundred denari?
Does the final consequence of this parable indicate that a person can lose his salvation? Why or why not?
What decision tin we make from this parable'due south ending?
How important is forgiveness?
How might a lack of forgiveness manifest itself in our lives? How might nosotros deed toward someone if we practise not forgive them? Does forgiving hateful forgetting? Does forgiving mean you will non bring it up again? Does forgiving mean the wound is completely healed? Is in that location anyone you need to forgive?

Cross-References

Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind, forgiving one another.

Mark 11:25 – Whenever you lot pray forgive, then that you will be forgiven.

Matthew 6:15 – If y'all do not forgive others, God will non forgive y'all.

Colossians three:13 – Forgive one some other equally God forgives you.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 – At that place is no one who does expert and never sins.

Psalm 102:12 – He removes our sins as far as the east is from the due west.

Verse by Verse Commentary

  • Peter thought he was already being very spiritual. Seven times of forgiving a blood brother is already many more times than their culture. Rabbis taught that two-3 times was forgiveness was enough.
  • God's standard is far above the world's standard. God'south standard is even far above the standard of the religious. Jesus said that one should forgive seventy-seven times (the Greek likely ways seventy times seven.) Application: If we compare ourselves to others, we may think that we are pretty good and quite spiritual. This is likely what Peter thought. Withal, nosotros should not compare ourselves to people or to worldly standards. Instead we should strive to accomplish God'south standard.
  • The main betoken of the parable is very articulate. God wants united states of america to forgive others. And if nosotros harbor unforgiveness and hatred in our hearts toward others, then it demonstrates we take not truly repented of our sins and therefore God will not forgive u.s. either.
  • The rex represents God. We see in this parable that He is both just and merciful. He is willing to forgive sins and bear witness mercy. At the aforementioned time, He wants u.s.a. to show true repentance. And He will punish unrepentant sin. God is the terminal judge. He is the decision maker. He sits on His throne. Our responsibleness is first and foremost to please God higher up everything else. Application: The retainer in the story does not act similar the rex did. He did non learn the lesson of mercy that the king showed him. Our God is good and we are to effort to emulate His character in our own lives.
  • Poesy 26 – It appears that this servant is repentant. He does enquire for the debt to be forgiven. But this does not mean he is saved. Matthew vii:21. In this case his actions will speak louder than words.
  • Verses 28-30 – The servant is unwilling to forgive a far smaller debt. One hundred denarii is 1 hundred days wages, a fairly large amount of money (thus we meet that people tin can commit quite serious sins against usa.) However, the amount of money owed is far less than the ten thousand talents (One talent is equal to about 33 KG of aureate). Yet this man is unwilling to forgive his boyfriend retainer. Many times we human activity with the same unforgiveness. What are some examples of things people exercise to united states of america that we struggle to forgive them for?
  • Here are some potential means that unforgiveness could exist shown through our deportment:
    • Fugitive the person.
    • Slow or unwilling to answer their phone calls or messages.
    • Common cold emotionally.
    • Tight lipped and unwilling to open up.
    • Saying hurtful things virtually the person behind their dorsum.
    • Non-verbal communication similar rolling of eyes or sighing when the person we are bellyaching with speaks.
  • Some think that this parable means a person tin can lose his salvation. Others say that the servant wasn't saved to brainstorm with. However, we should understand that parables like this are mostly not teaching such deep theology. Instead, it is teaching a elementary and piece of cake to sympathise point. God wants usa to forgive others like He forgives the states.That is this parable in a nutshell. We don't need to brand it overly complicated. Then the questions is "are you lot obeying this?" Are you forgiving others? How can nosotros ameliorate in forgiveness? When we say "I forgive you" do we really forgive the person or do nosotros harbor grudges? Do we need to expect until they ask united states of america to forgive them? These are some of the questions we need to discuss and meditate on. We demand to pray that God will assistance the states to get truly forgiving to our brothers and sisters and family unit effectually united states of america.

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