not wherewith to pay it, his lord commanded that he should be sold[1], and his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.”
But that servant, falling down, besought him, saying: “Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.”[2] Now the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, let him go, and forgave him[3] the debt.
But when that servant was gone out, he found one of his fellow-servants that owed him a hundred pence[4], and laying hold of him he throttled him, saying: “Pay what thou owest!”
Then his fellow-servant, falling down, besought him, saying: “Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.” Yet he would not; but went and cast him into prison till he should pay the debt. Now his fellow-servants, seeing what was done, were very much grieved[5]; and they came and told their lord all that was done.
Then his lord called him and said to him: “Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all the debt, because thou besoughtest me. Shouldst not thou, then, have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had compassion on thee?” And his lord, being angry, delivered him to the torturers until he should pay[6] all the debt. So [7] also shall My heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not everyone his brother from your hearts.
COMMENTARY.
The authority of the apostles. Our Lord gave the power of binding and loosing to the other apostles also; but as He had already made Peter the foundation-rock of the Church and the key-bearer of the kingdom of heaven, it is clear that the other apostles (and their suc-
- ↑ Sold. According to the Roman law of that time a creditor was entitled to sell any insolvent debtor, with his family, towards the payment of the debt.
- ↑ Pay thee all. In his terror he promised far more than he was able to perform. His lord knew very well that the debt could never be paid — but as the servant acknowledged the debt, and begged so earnestly, he set him free, and not merely granted him a delay, but entirely forgave him the debt.
- ↑ Forgave him. Just think how this servant must have rejoiced at being freed from the burden which had so long weighed on him.
- ↑ A hundred pence. Equal to not quite £ 3.10.0. of our money.
- ↑ Much grieved. At the hardness and cruelty of their fellow-servant.
- ↑ Until he should pay. In other words, for ever, because such a heavy debt could never be paid by him.
- ↑ So. Even as the king treated that servant who was so unmerciful to his fellow-servant.
