Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

Matthew 18:23-35; This parable—spoken following our Lord's statement to Peter that brethren should forgive each other "seventy times seven" offenses—teaches that as Deity forgives men the immeasurable debt they owe to him, so men should forgive their fellowmen the relatively slight debts incurred when brethren sin against each other.

Matthew 18:23-35; Men are indebted to God for all that they have and are—for life itself, for the probationary experiences of mortality (including some measure of food, clothing, and shelter), for redemption from death, and for the hope of eternal life in his presence. These and all other debts owed to Deity are listed on an account that shall never be marked paid. As King Benjamin expressed it, "In the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him. And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever." (Mosiah 2:23-24.)

Matthew 18:23-35; From this parable we also see an illustration of the true order for dispensing mercy. Though the unmerciful debtor did not come voluntarily, but was brought before the king, yet the servant's entreaties gained for him a merciful cancellation of the debt. Then he in turn having dealt mercilessly with his fellow servant, the sovereign revoked the original pardon, changed his merciful intent, and inflicted a dire and deserved penalty. Why? Not because the debtor had defaulted in his payments, but for lack of mercy after having received so abundantly himself of that precious commodity.

Matthew 18:23-35; And so it is in the dealings of the Eternal King with his servants. Sooner or later all face an enforced rendering of accounts, all are subjected to temptation, trials, and impending death, and all are rewarded with mercy or justice as their situations merit. Mercy is for the merciful; justice, retribution, and punishment fall upon those who have dealt harshly with their fellow servants. "With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." (Matthew 7:2.) "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (Matthew 6:12.)

Matthew 18:23. Kingdom of heaven] The Church of Jesus Christ, which is the kingdom of God on earth. A certain king] Deity. His servants] Members of his Church or kingdom.

Matthew 18:24; 24. Ten thousand talents] 28. An hundred pence] These sums present a contrast of striking proportion. Their use shows the great disparity between the infinite debt owed by man to his Maker and the insignificant sums which men, because of obligations incurred, owe each other. Talents as such carried different values. The Attic silver talent was worth about $1200, the Hebrew talent nearly twice that much, and a gold talent some 25 times as much. A pence was valued at some 17 cents. Thus, in effect, the king was saying: 'I have cancelled your million dollar obligation to me and yet you demand from your fellow servant the one thin dime he owes you.'

Matthew 18:25; 25. Attempts to find in this verse any approval of slavery or serfdom are wholly unwarranted. Our Lord's statement is merely an admission or recognition that such systems did exist in the then prevailing social order. The gospel itself is "the perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25), and one of its eternal principles is, "It is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another." (D&C 101:79.) But where the laws of men permit slavery or involuntary servitude, the gospel law requires conformity to the law of the land, rather than rebellion against it, even though the civil requirement does not meet the divine standard. (Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22; 1 Timothy 6:1-3; 1 Peter 2:18.)

Matthew 18:31; 31. It is mete and proper that the saints should importune at the throne of grace for the well-being of their fellow servants.

Matthew 18:34; 34. Pay all that was due] If men repent and obey the gospel law, they are forgiven of their sins; they inherit mercy from the Lord's hands, Christ himself through the infinite and eternal atonement bearing their burdens and paying the penalty for their transgressions. But if men do not repent and keep the commandments, if they continue to transgress against their brethren and to walk after the manner of the world, they are denied the full mercies of the atonement and instead are required to pay the penalty for their own sins. (D&C 19:4-20.)